The SA Housing Authority and youth charity Kids Under Cover have joined forces to support young people living in public housing. Expanding the reach from the Northern suburbs into regional areas, their goal is to ensure young people, who may be on the brink of homelessness, can stay safe and sound in their homes.
What is Kids Under Cover?
Kids Under Cover is a charity helping young people facing tough times. They don’t want our young people to end up without a home, so they’ve come up with a dynamic idea – they build special studios right in the backyards of a family member or a caretaker. These studios provide a safe place to live for young people aged 12 to 25 years.
The Kids Under Cover Studio Program is growing. It used to help young people whose families owned or privately rented their homes – but that’s changing with the program now including families living in public housing.
This expansion covers a vast area, reaching regional areas including the Barossa Valley, Gawler Belt, Two Wells, Allendale, Springton and Eden Valley. It’s estimated that around 64 young people will benefit from this wonderful initiative.
Why Do We Need Kids Under Cover Studios?
Sometimes, families can face tough times that lead to tensions and conflicts at home. The studios act like a pressure valve, giving everyone a little extra space to breathe. This can help prevent situations that might lead to homelessness, like family problems, overcrowding, and other challenges.
Expanding the program to include families in public housing, ensures young people facing the most risk get the support they need to stay in their homes and maintain healthy family relationships.
These one or two-bedroom studios come with their very own bathroom and offer medium to long-term accommodation with Kids Under Cover also providing scholarships worth around $1000 to each young person housed to encourage them to stay engaged in education and training.
Human Services Minister Nat Cook said “These studios give young people their own space, all within arm’s reach of their carers. They give young people and their families much-needed breathing space while they negotiate a situation that might lead young people to leave home before they are ready to. If we can take the pressure off, it can mean all the difference to a young person and their family.”
SA to provide $2.3 million to Kids Under Cover
To make all of this possible, the SA Housing Authority is providing $2.3 million to Kids Under Cover. This funding will help deliver 42 studios. So far, 12 studios have been placed to help young people avoid becoming homeless.
Stephen Nash, CEO of Kids Under Cover is “thrilled to have the opportunity to extend the impact that our studios have for vulnerable young people at risk of homelessness. We look forward to working with the South Australian Housing Authority to expand the program and ultimately provide a brighter future for many young people in need.”.
Kids Under Cover and the SA Housing Authority is making sure young people have the opportunity to grow, thrive, and stay in the safety of their homes. It’s a collaboration centred around care and compassion, making a real difference in the lives of young people at risk.
Find out more about Kids Under Cover here.
