Village Off The Streets

REDUCING YOUTH HOMELESSNESS A NATIONAL PRIORITY

Australia has rising rates of youth homelessness. With a severe housing affordability crisis, shortage of social housing stock and funding cuts to homeless service providers, more than 100,000 people are homeless on any given night in Australia, with more than one third being young people.

Between 2011-2016, numbers of homeless people increased by 14%, with more than 43,500 homelesspeople are under 25 (ABS Census 2016). The current approach of addressing homelessness using acute services is unsustainable and ineffective.

With so many young people living rough, it’s no wonder that we have increased levels of youth crime. In a recent study by Juvenile Justice with homeless youth demonstrated that 44% of youth had stayed in a prison or juvenile detention center, nearly 78% have had at least one interaction with the police, and nearly 62% had been arrested at some point in their lives. Homelessness leaves youth entrenched in the juvenile justice system.

Village off the streets is a model built on connection. It is a platform where youth become part of a community, learning new skills, values and mindsets that set them up for life. Not only does this village provide accommodation and connection, it helps break the cycle of many homeless youth continuing a life on the streets and often ending up being incarcerated and entering a life of crime.

OUR APPROACH

Help young people get the shelter they need today and learn the tools they need to break the cycle of disadvantage and homelessness forever.

One Vision Productions operates on the premise it takes a village to raise a child. Without secure, affordable housing, young people are set up to fail. With comprehensive support that includes case management, education and connection, this model provides an innovative and youth driven solution and addresses the needs to a system in crisis.

WHERE ARE WE NOW

We have a model of inclusion with plans developed- plans in place while working alongside business owners and entrepreneurs to deliver our program.

We are encouraging government and philanthropy to work together to create an alternative model.

Distance Education has committed to providing 1 full time equivalent secondary teacher for every 5 additional students to ensure we meet student to staff ratio’s and have means to meet student demand.

This model acts as a new way to approach youth homelessness. It is based on a model of success and can be replicated anywhere.

ALTERNATIVE LEARNING

OVP has demonstrated success utilizing alternative education models to re-engage young people in education, and experience working in schools and with Distance Education to deliver programs that meet the NSW Syllabus outcomes.

Distance education is an equity program for NSW students who are geographically isolated or whose individual circumstances prevent them from regularly attending school.

In partnership with Distance Education and local schools, OVP will deliver Year 7-12 alternative education program that will be delivered at the OVP Creative Hub & onsite at the OVP Village. As part of staying on this complex, youth have to attend educational pathways and contribute to the community. Youth will also have the opportunity to attend TAFE on campus with certain subjects or linked with partnered institutes in other subject areas.

REDUCING YOUTH OFFENDING

In knowing the importance of passion based mentoring OVP has developed a model called “Change the Track” especially for young people aged 12-20 at risk of becoming entrenched in the criminal justice system. Considering the amount of homeless youth that end up offending, this would assist the village for youth that have had encounters with the court system.

This is a unique program that utilises a ‘passion based learning model,’ combined with evidence-based research that identifies and addresses contributing factors to offending behaviour, including trauma, psychological disorders and cognitive impairments of young offenders.

All participants will receive psychological and criminogenic risks and needs assessment. Effective interventions need to address psychological and cognitive impairments, and be flexible and responsive to individual needs.

Interventions will include: intensive individual mentoring, positive parenting coursers and training, Rites of Passage, alternative education, training and employment opportunities, and support to address issues relating to social, emotional, health and wellbeing and legal issues. (see Change The Track Brochure)

Welcome to a new paradigm, a system founded on models of success and innovative techniques globally. This model can be replicated all throughout Australia and can act as a foundational point to give youth a life of success and self-worth through connection; rather than been entrenched in a system that leaves our youth in detention, homeless and disconnected.

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