Anchor has joined leading voices in the homelessness sector to call for a dedicated Victorian Youth Homelessness Strategy.
On Day 1 of the Victorian Youth Homelessness Assembly, Anchor CEO Heidi Tucker chaired the breakout session titled “Prioritising Prevention: Turning Off the Tap.” This critical session brought together experts to explore how early intervention and evidence-based prevention programs can address the growing youth homelessness crisis in Australia.
Why a Youth Homelessness Strategy Matters
The Assembly was a powerful platform for young people with lived and living experience of homelessness to collaborate with sector leaders. Together, they are working to develop a Youth Homelessness Strategy that can be presented to the Victorian Government.
Council to Homeless Persons (CHP) CEO Deborah Di Natale addressed the urgent need for action, noting that Victoria currently lacks a dedicated youth homelessness strategy.
“The state’s most recent youth homelessness plan celebrated its 18th birthday last year,” said Ms Di Natale. “We need a modern strategy to end this spiralling crisis, and we can’t afford to wait any longer for it.”
Anchor’s Commitment to Ending Youth Homelessness
Anchor is committed to preventing homelessness before it begins—especially for young people. We believe that a strong, up-to-date Youth Homelessness Strategy, shaped by those with direct experience of homelessness, is vital to making meaningful change.
We will continue to advocate for systems reform and champion the voices of young people as we work towards ending youth homelessness in Victoria.
Panel members featured on the Prioritising Prevention panel were:
Mitch Burney – General Manager, Youth and Housing Supports, Quantum Support Services
Jaime de Loma-Osorio Ricon – Deputy CEO, Banksia Gardens Community Services
David MacKenzie – CEO, Upstream Australia
Stephen Nash – CEO, Kids Under Cover
Belinda Tominc – Clinical Nurse Consultant – Youth Health, Young People’s Health Service
Heidi Tucker (facilitator) – CEO, Anchor Community Care
