Youth Foyer to help ease Coast housing issues

Nicklin Electorate news with Marty Hunt MP

One of the issues I hear about most often is the growing pressure on housing – including for young people trying to find their footing.

That’s why the delivery of a new Youth Foyer announced last week (16/4) for the Sunshine Coast is such an important step forward for our region.

While the facility will be based in Maroochydore, there’s no doubt it will support vulnerable young people from across the Coast, including right here in Nicklin.

This will be the largest youth foyer ever delivered in Queensland, providing 50 self-contained units for young people aged 16 to 25 who are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.

Importantly, this model is about much more than just a roof over someone’s head.

It offers stable accommodation alongside 24/7 wraparound support, helping young people stay engaged in education, training or employment while learning the life skills they need to build independence.

Residents contribute around 25 per cent of their income in rent, ensuring the model remains both supportive and sustainable.

We know this approach works. Youth foyers have a proven track record of helping young people break the cycle of homelessness and create a pathway toward a more secure future.

For many, it can be the difference between instability and opportunity.

This project is part of the Crisafulli Government’s broader commitment to deliver eight new youth foyers across Queensland which is a significant step up after only two were delivered over the past decade.

Construction is expected to begin early next year, and for young people doing it tough, completion can’t come soon enough.

This builds on our recent Nambour investment: $1 million to expand local outreach services from one day a week to five, eight new social homes delivered with Coast2Bay, and 20 places of crisis and transitional accommodation secured just outside the Nambour CBD.

Through a record $5.6 billion investment, our Government is delivering 53,500 social and affordable homes by 2044, creating more opportunities for Queenslanders to have a place to call home.

This Youth Foyer is another step forward, and I’m proud to support initiatives that deliver real, lasting outcomes for our community as a whole.