Transitional Youth Support Services

Berry Street’s Transitional Youth Support Services (TYSS) offer outreach support to young single people or young families aged 16 to 25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

How it works

Youth Housing Support workers can assist with:

• providing information about housing options
• accessing additional homelessness services
• completing and lodging applications to Housing Victoria
• providing support and information on how to access the private rental market, including applying for Bond Loans
• referrals to other specialist services, such as counselling, employment, education, family mediation and reconciliation
• advice on Housing Victoria issues
• secondary consults in relation to youth homelessness.

Program outcomes

Young people will be supported to:

• explore opportunities to prevent them entering the homelessness system
• develop a plan to explore appropriate housing options
• build on their strengths so they can work towards their goals
• increase independent living skills
• develop links with the community.

Eligible young people may be living in transitional accommodation or still looking for stable accommodation.

Other TYSS supports

There are 2 programs that are part of our Transitional Youth Support Services:

• Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (HIP)
• Transition to Independence (TTI).

Homelessness Intervention and Prevention

Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (HIP) assesses and provides advice on issues impacting on a young person’s living situation with their family. We can also explore opportunities for family reconciliation or mediation to help support the young person to stay safely at home.

If counselling is appropriate, workers can make referrals to other Berry Street programs or community support services.

For young people who are already involved with homelessness services and are newly homeless, Youth Housing Support workers can help explore options with other family members or provide support with unresolved personal or family issues. This can help re‑establish positive relationships with family and community.

Transition to Independence

The Transition to Independence (TTI) program offers accommodation to young people aged 16 to 25 who have become homeless and are completing their education, with a focus on VCE and early tertiary studies. Up to 4 young people at any one time can live in a shared property in Melbourne’s northern suburbs for up to 2 years.

The program allows young people to continue their education without interruption while they are supported to find long term housing.

Eligibility for TTI

A young person may be eligible for the TTI program if they:

• are engaged in education or training
• have a level of independence and living skills to maintain their tenancy
• are eligible for youth allowance or have a source of income to pay rent at 25% of their income (transitional housing rate), and can pay for utility costs
• are willing to engage with support staff and participate in house meetings.

Contact us

Young people and workers are encouraged to contact us to find out more about these programs and whether the supports are suitable. Young people can be referred from their school, a support worker or agency, or they can contact us directly.

For more information or to make a referral, please contact us on:

Phone: 03 9450 4700

Email: TYSS@berrystreet.org.au