Nepean Blue Mountains District Homeless Youth Assistance Program (HYAP)

This service focuses on supporting children and young people aged 12 -1 5 years old who are homeless or at risk of homelessness within in the Mountains, Hawkesbury, Lithgow and Penrith area.

It provides prevention and early intervention, brokerage to provide flexible service options, outreach and accommodation support which includes beds that are accessible to children and young people across the district.

This service helps to reconnect unaccompanied children and young people with their families or wider support networks, where appropriate, or facilitate transitions to more appropriate long-term supported accommodation.

Strengths-based and trauma-informed case management is provided to build resilience and confidence through mentoring, role modelling and supporting access to specialist services, e.g. counselling, for children and young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

The service also provides and facilitates 24/7 accommodation, brokerage and outreach, e.g. home and school visits, to support the implementation of case plans. Follow-up case management is provided to clients after exiting the HYAP service to prevent further risk of homelessness.

This service has a strong focus on Aboriginal young people and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.