A public meeting over the future of Shoalhaven Youth Accommodation has been told the Labor Party will fight to save the nine youth beds lost under the government’s Going Home Staying Home reform.
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Labor candidate for South Coast Fiona Phillips was joined by the shadow minister for housing Sophie Cotsis at the meeting at the Nowra School of Arts on Monday.
Ms Cotsis said Labor would fight to save the nine youth beds and gain additional funding.
“It is critical these youth transition beds in the Shoalhaven are not removed and we will be fighting to keep them,” Ms Cotsis said.
Shoalhaven Youth Accommodation manager Kerri Snowden was joined by Toni Nicholls and Kellie McIlwain, who had both accessed SYA services and told their stories.
“The current tender for youth, which CareSouth was awarded, is worth $425,000 to provide 10 beds for crisis short-term accommodation. We previously received $193,000 and had nine beds and CareSouth had $395,000 and eight beds. By my calculations that is a loss of $163,000 in funding,” Ms Snowden said.
Ms McIlwain said SYA had helped her and her three children escape from a violent domestic violence situation four years ago.
“Not only did they save me but they saved my children as well – they helped us break the domestic violence cycle,” she said.
Ms Nicholls walked out on a 19-year violent relationship.
“I walked from Shoalhaven Heads to Nowra, stayed a night under the bridge and then went to the police station the next day,” she said.
“I was referred to SYA and I know if it hadn’t been for them I wouldn’t be here today.”