Did you know that 1 in 5 people experiencing homelessness are of Indigenous heritage? These statistics are just two examples that show young people from diverse minority groups are more likely to be at risk of homelessness. It’s an issue that’s top of mind for the St John of God Horizon House team.
Hospitality and inclusivity in action.
Dana Anderson, St John of God Social Outreach Manager Youth Services says, “The reasons young people find themselves at risk of homelessness are many and varied. We meet with each young person where they're at, with a non-judgemental approach that welcomes and embraces diversity.
“It’s a person-centred approach that aligns with our values, particularly the value of hospitality.”
Putting the individual’s best interests first.
“We recognise that all young people come with a unique set of circumstances, challenges and aspirations, and we tailor our support accordingly, not just in the short term but with the aim of helping each individual grow and progress,” says Dana.
It’s an important point. When Horizon House welcomes a young person, it’s the beginning of a commitment that lasts years: more than putting a roof over their head, the Horizon House team works with young people to understand who they are and what they want to do, and then help them develop the skills and access the support they need to look after themselves and move on.
A mindful approach to supporting each person.
Dana says, “Hospitality and inclusivity are integral to our culture, and we ensure we offer all of our caregivers diversity and inclusion training – for example, training for LGBTIQA+ inclusivity in the workplace or Aboriginal cultural safety. This helps ensure we’re always conscious of our responsibility to make sure everyone feels welcome, recognised and safe.
“Everything we do is tailored to the individual. Say we have an African client – we’ll help them maintain their connection to their culture, right down to shopping at a local African store rather than Woolworths. For a young Aboriginal person, we’ll link them up with Aboriginal health services.”
Every care at every stage of an individual’s Horizon House journey.
A commitment to inclusivity permeates every aspect of the Horizon House service, from inclusive language on referral forms to safe spaces for gender-diverse individuals.
“We have a neurodiverse young person who left one of our houses but who’s struggling with the upkeep of their private rental,” says Dana. “Our caregivers provide extra support to help them stay on top of that, thereby avoiding potential issues with rental inspections and helping them maintain their independence.
“Likewise, if a young person takes on a private rental and feels that they're being discriminated against because of their diversity, we advocate for them or introduce them to someone who can advocate on their behalf.
“When we say we’re here for young people at risk of homelessness, we mean not only when they’re staying at one of our houses, but also as they move forward.”
