REDLANDS YOUTH CHANGE DRIVER GROUP

Purpose:
To collaboratively address the lack of emergency shelter for homeless youth in the Redlands area.
Partnership Members:

• RDA Redlands and Logan Redlands City Council
• BoysTown(YC provider)
• PCYC Redlands
• BABI Youth and Family Support
• Max Employment
• Redlands Institute
• Local high schools

Context and Goals
Redlands community organisations report that there are no emergency shelters for youth in Redlands. Youth are sent to Brisbane for shelter and, as such, do not show up in sets of data that influence decisions. Organisations report that homelessness is one of the key drivers of disengagement.
The goal of this group is to research and collate evidence to measure the extent of the problem and to then use this data to influence decision makers to provide a local emergency shelter, preferably with wrap around youth health and psychological services.

The Partnership’s Approach
The group established the assets available within the membership at the first meeting and set a joint goal. They now allocate tasks amongst the group to progress their aim, with group email progress updates in between quarterly face to face meetings.
While recognising the challenge that the identified goal presents, the group is fortunate that the RDA CEO (Logan and Redlands) actively participates in this group and is able to provide a communication channel to a level that can effect change.

Benefits

Having a common project has resulted in an energetic and focused group. The asset base and connections within the group predisposes them towards success.

Next Steps
The group aims to build evidence as well as capacity amongst themselves to gain a better understanding of best practice youth emergency shelters. From that they aim to make a case for a shelter and engage with decision makers to make that a reality. Currently, we are in the process of linking local property developers with community agencies to possibly provide housing in the Redlands. The RYCD Group has successfully received funding from the Redland City Council to undertake research and produce a report into youth homelessness. The outcomes from this research will be utilised by local services to inform the development of future strategies.