The Youth Housing and Reintegration Service’s objective is to reduce homelessness affecting young people aged 12-21 years who are either exiting, or transitioning from child protection orders, are transitioning to the community following a period of sentence or remand in a Youth Detention Centre, or are homeless, or in inadequate housing.

The Townsville YHaRS program is funded by the Queensland Government, Department of Communities.

The Program has two components: a) Support Service, b) After Care Service

a) The Support Service will provide case management based assistance and brokerage. There will be four stages in the service delivery:

1. Stage 1. Referrals and assessment.
2. Stage 2. Initial intervention.
3. Stage 3. Medium/long term assistance
4. Stage 4. Follow up and evaluation

Geographical location: Townsville

Please read information pages prior to referring to the YHaRS program Support Service.

b) After Care Service
The After Care Service will support young people aged 17-21 years who are exiting care or who already have exited from care after being subject to a child protection order. This  can include young people aged 16 years that are ‘self-placing’ or disengaged from the child protection system.

Provision of Case Management will be limited to young people in this client group who reside in the Townsville area. The main focus of this service will be provision of brokerage funding. Techniques similar to these applied in case of the Support Service will be used.

Geographic catchment areas/referral sources:
Townsville Local Government Area for Support Service clients and North Queensland and Far North Queensland (Department of Communities) regions for After Care Service clients eligible for brokerage funds.

Please read YHARS Guidelines and Information prior to referring to the YHaRS program After Care Service.

YHARS Referral Form 2021

Head Leasing: A Queensland Youth Services & Sharehouse Youth Programs Inc. Partnership

For over 40 years, Sharehouse Youth Programs and Queensland Youth Services Inc. (QYS) have supported young people who struggle to secure long-term accommodation. In recent years, the number of young people in need of housing assistance has increased, and so has the strain on existing community housing. Queensland Youth Services’ Youth Housing and Reintegration Service (YHARS) and Sharehouse have worked with over 394 young people in Townsville who have experienced homelessness this year alone (2020/2021 FY). Many of the young people assisted by YHARS are transitioning from the Child Protection System (Foster Care) and have no where to go once they reach 18.

The majority of young people accessing these support services find themselves homeless through no fault of their own. Stressors like family and domestic violence, family breakdown, financial stress and mental health challenges are some of the prominent circumstances that can lead to a young person to becoming homeless. Sharehouse currently manages 20 properties in Townsville that are used as Crisis and Transitional accommodation. Unfortunately,vacancies in these properties are rare, and often filled within hours, leaving vulnerable youth further at-risk.

Queensland Youth Services Inc. has partnered with Sharehouse Youth Programs Inc. to assist young people aged 16 to 21 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in transitioning into supported accommodation.

Now, we need your help. We are in search of suitable rental properties in Townsville to help us with delivering our joint mission.

How will it work?

• Sharehouse will enter into a standard lease (12 months) with your realtor, providing you as the property owner with all of the benefits you currently enjoy.
• Sharehouse will then enter into formal, individual rooming agreements with each young person (the sub-tenant), taking on both the risk and additional work.
• Queensland Youth Services’ YHARS Program Workers will provide on-going individualised support to each young person, ensuring that each property is well taken care of.

This project is funded by the Queensland Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs.

How will you benefit?

• Rent will be paid at least three months in advance.
• Two property managers will be taking care of the property.
• Monthly inspections of the property will be conducted by Sharehouse’s Property Manager, who will ensure it is well maintained.
• The property will be visited multiple times per week by QYS YHARS Program Workers, who will ensure any issues are addressed immediately.
• Repairs will be completed quickly by qualified contractors, though these will be minimal, as all tenants will be thoroughly vetted by both QYS YHARS and Sharehouse.
• House rules will be implemented, including quiet hours, no pets, no parties, restrictions on guest numbers and alcohol usage; all sub-tenants must abide by these.
• All antisocial behaviour or neighbourhood complaints will be proactively managed.

Most importantly, you will be playing an important part in providing safe and stable accommodation for vulnerable young people in our community.

To help or to find out more information:

Speak to your real estate agent if you have a property available for rent and get in contact with us.
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Call (07) 4771 5346
Visit www.sharehouse.org.au
Download and share the QYS & Sharehouse Head Lease Flyer

Townsville: