Everyone Deserves a Home
Homelessness means not having a home where you feel safe, secure, and in control. For young people facing homelessness, crashing at a friend's place or with strangers, also known as 'couch surfing', might seem like a decent temporary fix. But in reality, it’s incredibly tough; you lack your own space and security, and it can be risky too.
We understand that homelessness doesn't discriminate; it can happen to anyone. That’s why our goal is to assist young people in finding the right living situation for them. Whether that’s helping to repair family relationships so they can return home or finding a place for them to live independently.
How We Can Help
We provide a range of homelessness and housing support services for young people aged 25 and under, including:
- Prevention and early intervention support for young who are at risk of becoming homeless.
- Crisis accommodation and emergency housing for people aged 15 to 18 in our two youth refuges: one in Bathurst and one in Orange.
- Transitional housing for young people who are ready to live independently.
- Individualised casework support that can include accompanying young people to appointments for housing, mental health, or medical needs, connecting them with other services, such as counselling for alcohol and drug issues, even helping them relocate if necessary.
- Brokerage support to help young people pay for things like basic necessities, housing-related costs, education or employment expenses, medical costs and more.
- Our programs teach useful skills for everyday life, both practical and social.
Youth Refuges
Located in both Orange and Bathurst, our youth refuges are a 24 hour crisis service providing short term and emergency accommodation and support for young people between the ages of 16 and 18 years who are vulnerable, homeless or at risk of homelessness (subject to assessment). With offices located in both Bathurst and Orange, offering referral services throughout the Bathurst, Oberon, Blayney, Orange and Cabonne areas.
What does the Youth Refuge provide?
- Veritas provides short term and emergency supported accommodation
- The refuge is a comfortable, clean, homelike environment, where young people can feel safe, supported and protected
- Our professional and caring youth workers are available 24 hours a day to assist young people
- Individualised case management is available to all young people accommodated within the service to assist with:
- Identifying immediate needs as well as long term goals
- Referral to independent housing
- Family mediation
- Assessment, advocacy and referral to specialised services
- Personal support
- Social / living skills education and programs
- Information
- Recreational activities
- Crisis intervention
- Work toward restoration and / or reconciliation with their families (where appropriate)
The Service is flexible and can support young people through a range of service delivery methods including case management, case work and casual assistance.
To read more please download the SHS flyer.
The Orange and Bathurst Youth Refuges are a specialist homelessness service funded by the NSW Department of Communities and Justice.
Bail & Accommodation Support Service (BASS)
Veritas House is funded by Youth Justice to provide a bed and safe supportive place to stay through the Bail and Accommodation Support Services (BASS) in Central Western NSW. The BASS is an after-hours service for police who are considering granting conditional bail to a young person who is in their custody but who cannot be released as they cannot meet their bail conditions. To ensure young people are able to meet the conditions of their bail, Veritas House provides accommodation and case management support for young people in our Bathurst service, enabling them to await their court date within the community, rather than in a detention centre. The BASS program ensures young people receive the support they need to navigate their way through the legal system and reduce the risk of reoffending.
Youth Outreach
The Veritas House Youth Outreach and Transitional Housing Programs support young people aged 16 to 24 years who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The service works with young people who require support whilst living at home or are living independently in the Bathurst area. The program aims to assist young people foster a sense of independence and learn the tools to live in the community and maintain a tenancy. The outreach service provides a focus on living skills programs to assist to break down the barriers young people face with accessing suitable accommodation and support services.
Our support to young people includes:
- Strengths-based case management
- Tenancy education
- Advocacy and referral
- Referral to specialist services
- Assistance to obtain government allowances
- Material aid
- Pregnancy and family planning support
- Living skills / personal development programs
- Recreational activities
- Home visiting
- Linkages with mental health and drug and alcohol services.
Veritas House Youth Outreach Service is funded by the NSW Department of Communities and Justice.
Homeless Youth Assistance Program (HYAP)
Veritas House Homeless Youth Assistance Program (HYAP) supports young people aged 12-15 years, who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness.
Veritas works collaboratively with families and other services to support young people. Support is FREE and provided through individualised case management which focuses on:
- Rebuilding relationships with family, kin and culture
- Support accessing education, training and employment
- Assistance accessing health and mental health services
- Connection with community, providing assistance to connect with community groups
- Safe Accommodation, through information and support to secure safe accommodation options.
Where are services available?
The Veritas House HYAP provides support to young people in the Central West Local Government Areas of:
Outreach Services are also available. To read more please download the HYAP flyer.
To find out more about any of the services included above, please contact our Homelessness and Early Intervention (HEI) team on 1300 011 973.
The above services are funded by the NSW Department of Communities and Justice through Specialist Homelessness Services for Bathurst and Orange, and Western NSW Homeless Youth Assistance.