Page 3987 - Week 10 - Thursday, 20 September 2018
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(2) Are specific measures being developed for this priority group in the ACT Housing Strategy
(3) Does the ACT have Territory level data on the housing circumstances of young people after exiting care given that work is under way in a number of jurisdictions on the development of some kind of housing guarantee or extension to the age at which young people are exited from care.
Ms Berry: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) The ACT Together consortium deliver foster and kinship care and residential care funded under the A Step Up for Our Kids Strategy.
ACT Together offer a range of differential services that support young people in out of home care to transition to independent living called the Community Adolescent Program (CAP). The CAP has a strong focus on supporting young people to obtain and maintain safe and appropriate stable housing based on individual needs.
The CAP Outreach service is designed for young people who have self-placed or are transitioning to independent living from foster or kinship care. Young people are provided with case management and support with an emphasis on building the young people’s capacity for independent living and exploring housing options.
The CAP Housing program provides housing options for young people transitioning from out of home care to independent living. Offering fully furnished accommodation with individual and shared housing options, as well as flexible and hands-on support provided by CAP case managers and youth workers. Within the CAP Housing program there are two specific services:
Lead Tenant Program – Supports young people live alongside a Lead Tenant, a volunteer, who shares a home rent-free and acts as a mentor by role modelling independent living and supports the ongoing development of living skills.
Transitional Housing Program – Provides supported accommodation options for young people. One particular stream within this model allows for the transfer of Housing ACT properties to young people who are transitioning from care. ACT Together has 3 individual properties where young people are supported to establish a home and once they have demonstrated their capacity for independence the case manager completes a Priority Needs Recommendation for the Housing ACT Multidisciplinary Panel to consider an application for priority allocation.
The CAP Aftercare Support program offers outreach case management support for young people aged 18 - 25 years who have previously been in care. Young people are supported to continue to develop their independent living skills and are supported to access appropriate housing options and a range of other support services according to their individual needs.
The A Step Up for Our Kids strategy extended the carer subsidy for some young people who wish to remain in the care of their foster or kinship carer beyond the age of 18 and up to the age of 21 years. ACT Together are able to apply to extend the carers subsidy for young people where it can be demonstrated the young person’s wellbeing, stability and ability to transition to independence would otherwise be jeopardised by the cessation of the carer subsidy at 18 years.
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