The Hunter Foyer Project

Brad Webb, Chair

Youth Homelessness in NSW
28,191 people experiencing homelessness in NSW (40.8 per
10,000)
3,632 children under 12 (12.9%)
2,642 children 12-18 (9.4%)
4,277 youth 19-24 (15.2%)
Source: Homelessness NSW
http://www.homelessnessnsw.org.au/images/stories/documents/Ho
melessness_in_New_South_Wales.pdf
Youth Homelessness in the Hunter
Population of Hunter Valley (excl. Newcastle) PLUS Newcastle and
Lake Macquarie = 632,938 (2014)
Source: ABS http://stat.abs.gov.au/itt/r.jsp?databyregion#/
Estimated number of people experience homelessness = 2,582
(40.8 per 10,000)
Estimated number of youth experiencing homelessness = 636
12-18 = 243 (9.4%)
19-24 = 393 (15.2%)
Youth Homelessness is a NSW Priority
Premiers Priorities
Reducing youth homelessness

State Priorities
Creating sustainable social housing
Boosting apprenticeships
Delivering strong budgets
What is a Foyer?
Integrated access to:
Affordable housing
Support and security
Education and training
Work experience and employment pathways

Additional benefits including:

Independent living skills
Stable health and wellbeing
Social connectedness
Mentoring and support networks
The history of Youth Foyers
Originated in France in the late 1800s
Established in the UK in 1992
First established in Australia in 2001 (Western Sydney and
Wollongong)
Australian Foyer Foundation established in 2008
Approximately 14 Foyers or Foyer-type services in all Australian
states and territories, except Tasmania and NT
The 5 core features of Youth Foyers
1. A deal
2. Home first
3. Promotes talents and aspirations
4. Provides networks and opportunities
5. Community resources
The impact of Youth Foyers
Primary aims:
Reduce youth homelessness
Increase participation in education
Increase participation in employment

75% of Foyer residents make a successful transition

Australian impact data (June 2013)
Young people housed 273
Non-housed clients assisted / supported 708
Training sessions provided e.g. life skills, 1582
workshops
Number of clients successfully 273
completing service
Number of clients who left the program early due to 17
dispute/non-engagement
Percentage of ex-residents in (recognised and 81%
ongoing) permanent housing
Percentage of ex residents in education or 52%
training
The evidence base for Youth Foyers
Quality of current evidence: Levin, Borlagdan, Mallett, and Ben (2015)
Encouraging conclusions from the 15 studies (UK, Australia, US)
However, the Foyer model requires more rigorous research and
evaluation if it is to impact policy
Brotherhood of St Laurence has commissioned a 3-year longitudinal
study on the Education First Youth Foyer at Holmesglen (Victoria)
Foyer Oxford (WA) has commissioned KPMG to undertake a four year
evaluation using the Results Based Accountability (RBA) framework
Financing Youth Foyers
No clear funding pathways
Capital funding
Operating costs
Social Benefit Bonds (Social Impact Bonds)
Financial Analysis of Foyer and Foyer-like Youth Housing Models
(June 2013)
The Foyer Foundation
Supports the development of:
Foyers within a local (Australian) context
A network of high quality, Australian and New Zealand Foyers

The Foundations role is to:

Promote Foyers and the Foyer model, particularly as a policy issue
Support development of Foyers
Licence operators
Advocate for young people
Hunter Foyer Project - History
Established Hunter Youth 2020 in 2009
Evaluated models and explored partnerships
Identified consortium partners and undertook consultation
Executed a Statement of Common Purpose in May 2013

The purpose of the Statement is to establish an enduring and productive

relationship between our organisations that uses our collective capacity to
optimise outcomes for the development of a Hunter Foyer Project.
Why Foyer?
Hunter Youth 2020 was attracted to Foyer because it:
Delivers outcomes for young people
Breaks the cycle of disadvantage
Does not generate long term dependency
Builds capacity and resilience in young people a hand up, not a hand out
Has a growing evidence base around impact and sustainability
Is supported by a national network through the Foyer Foundation
Requires partnership, which resonates with our ethos as a broker-profiler-
facilitator
The Hunter Foyer Project consortium
1. Hunter Youth 2020
2. Compass Housing
3. Hunter TAFE
4. Life Without Barriers
5. Rotary Club of Charlestown
Hunter Foyer Project - Achievements
Benchmarked Foyers in Australia and conducted extensive international
research
Engaged early with the Australian Foyer Foundation
Developed a robust business case and financial analysis of the Hunter
Foyer Project
Established consultative relationships with NSW Department of Premier
and Cabinet, NSW Department of Family and Community Services, NSW
Office for Social Impact Investment, NSW TAFE, Social Ventures Australia,
Yfoundations, Hunter Development Corporate, local councils and other
NSW Foyers
Hunter Foyer Project Achievements
Developed (and maintained) a program of advocacy with NSW and
Federal MPs, relevant Ministers, and government departments
Built additional support and awareness with philanthropists,
potential corporate supporters, and the Hunter community
Identified additional consortium partners and began a process of
due diligence
Maintained an active program of evidence evaluation and best
practice benchmarking
Identified funding opportunities and submitted funding proposals
Hunter Foyer Project Strategic Goals
Strengthening the business case for a traditional Foyer
Seeking additional consortium partners who could enhance the
Hunter Foyer Project
Building collaborative partnerships with government, other Foyers,
peak bodies, funders, and the Australian Foyer Foundation
Executing a targeted advocacy program with government and policy
makers, particularly around awareness and policy
Ensuring our work contributes to the evidence base for Foyers
Further Information
Brad Webb, Chair Hunter Foyer Project
bradjw@bigpond.com
0410 687566

Hunter Foyer Project

https://www.facebook.com/Hunter.Foyer.Project

Australian Foyer Foundation

http://foyer.org.au/