FUNDING has been extended for a community service that supports youth at risk of homelessness and mental health breakdown.
St George Accommodation for Youth, Hurstville, received the much-needed funds from the NSW Department of Family and Community Services.
The youth centre has helped young people aged 16 to 25 in the region for 31 years.
Through collaboration with other agencies its social workers aim to break the cycle of homelessness by building strong independence.
But district director of NSW Family and Community Services Geraldine O'Grady said funding would continue until June 2017 under the Service Support Fund.
She said Project Youth was successful in the tender for the new St George Sutherland Youth Support Service and were working in partnership with The Bridge Youth Service and Jacaranda Cottage (Churches of Christ Community Care).
"This new service provides accommodation and support to young people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless in St George and Sutherland areas," she said.
"Under the Going Home Staying Home reforms the NSW government is investing $148 million a year in homelessness services, which is an increase of 9.6 per cent from last year.
"No government-owned refuges are closing, although they may now be managed by a different provider.
"New services are better suited to the needs of the community and provide more support earlier, before people reach crisis."
St George Accommodation for Youth board secretary Rob Lindsay welcomed the review of funding decisions.
"It's good news," he said. "We will continue to budget around what we're given.
"There was big backlash from the community and this was really prompted by strong online petitions.
"We are going through a process of change, and we're thinking ahead — we are certainly looking at other ways of servicing the community."
Kellie Checkley of Project Youth said its staff were also experienced in working with housing youth with mental health problems.
"Project Youth is a large organisation which operates a number of programs, one of which is housing," she said.
"Project Youth has been very clear that the service package that we were successful in obtaining does not have a specialisation of mental health; however, our staff (housing and otherwise) have and do work with and house young people who present with mental health issues."
People experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless can call Link2home 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 152 152.
