O’Connor MP Rick Wilson backs Great Southern Youth Foyer push urging ‘cross-jurisdictional’ approach

O’Connor MP Rick Wilson has backed a call by the Foyer Foundation and FoyerInvest for the Federal Government to commit funding in this year’s budget to address youth homelessness concerns.

Mr Wilson met with representatives of FoyerInvest during their visit to Canberra last week, briefing him on their submission for the upcoming Federal Budget.

He said he “wholeheartedly” supports the Albany-based Great Southern Foyer proposal and that he commended the work of its proponents as well as the City of Albany’s in-principle committal of land for the project.

“I stand ready to assist the Great Southern project, whether that be in supporting a funding approach under an established Federal program or in encouraging the Federal Government to back the project through the budget process,” Mr Wilson said.

A business case prepared by the Brotherhood of St Laurence for the Albany Youth Support Association in consultation with Advance Housing estimated costs of $20 million-$30m for a 60-unit project — 10 units for short-term crisis accommodation and 50 for transitional housing.

Mr Wilson said that while most enquiries about housing were the responsibility of the State Government, he believed a “cross-jurisdictional approach” was required to address youth homelessness.

“I am very keen to see the Great Southern Youth Foyer get its fair share of Commonwealth funding,” he said.

“The Federal Government’s Housing Australia Future Fund, parts of which are there to address homelessness, would be the perfect vehicle for that.

“But that’s just capital funding. Given the State’s constitutional responsibility for housing, I would urge the Cook Government to come to the party with support services and ongoing operational funding.”