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Homelessness is usually a result of other forms of disadvantage building to a crisis; family violence, abuse and mental health are the major drivers into homelessness for young people.
A main priority for MCM is to prevent homelessness from occurring in the first place. To achieve this, we offer proactive services aimed at keeping young people within their family home (when possible), or in other stable accommodation.
We believe every young person deserves a safe place to call home. Our goal is to end youth homelessness by using a housing-first approach combined with up to four years of intensive, strengths-based, and client-centered support - otherwise known as our Youth Housing Initiative (YHI). Our integrated services help young people to stabilise housing, improve health and wellbeing, build essential life skills, and enhance community connections, including pathways to education and employment.
YHI is designed for young people aged 18-22 who are either homeless or at risk of homelessness. We assist individuals facing barriers such as mental health challenges, substance use, family violence, involvement in the justice system, or difficulties accessing education and employment services.
Referrals can be made through MCM youth refuges and local housing access points as vacancies become available.
YHI offers three types of accommodation, each providing different levels of support based on individual needs and progress toward independent living.
Properties are located in Werribee, Point Cook, and Footscray.
As Victoria’s only dedicated youth housing provider, MCM Housing offers social housing to low-income young people aged 18-24. With integrated tenancy management and services, YHI delivers consistent, coordinated support tailored to each young person’s unique needs. Learn more about MCM Housing here: www.mcmhousing.org.au/
Our team works closely with each young person, offering tailored and holistic support.
Case Management Support
Peer Support
YHI provides peer support from individuals with lived experience of homelessness. These peer workers offer holistic assistance focused on building relationships and independent living skills.
Therapeutic Support
Our in-house clinicians deliver specialised therapeutic support for young people who have experienced homelessness and mental health issues. This includes assessments, treatment plans, secondary consultations, and assistance with referrals to community-based mental health services.
For more information about the Youth Housing Initiative, please contact us at YHI@mcm.org.au.
The Family Reconciliation Mediation Program offers brokerage to people aged 16 to 25.
Through the allocation of funding each year, young people can access a range of supports such as family mediation, counselling, family therapies and respite.
Further information can be found on our Family Reconciliation and Mediation Program page.
Homelessness can affect anyone, so education and awareness in the community is an important step towards prevention.
By raising awareness and promoting the support that’s available, we hope to stop the cycle in its tracks and intervene sooner.
Frontyard Youth Services is a 24-hour crisis accommodation centre in the CBD offering trauma-informed support to people aged 12 to 25.
Passionate about raising awareness, Frontyard works with schools to educate students on homelessness.
School groups are welcome to organise an education session with Frontyard where they learn about the reality of homelessness for young people in Melbourne.
If a person has already entered the homelessness cycle or is leaving care, we offer response services such as accommodation & case management.
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Ongoing support is also available that covers education & employment, health & wellbeing, living skills development & legal assistance.
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