EDSocialJustice+Melbourne+City+Misson

=__Melbourne City Mission__ =

===We got the chance to visit the Melbourne City Mission and discuss their youth program, Front Yard. They told us that they aim to be a 'one stop shop' experience which means that they don't only deal with one specific problem. It means that if someone come in looking for a home, Front Yard will try and fix the problem that started the homelessness. ===

 They have plenty of services that can help the problems these youth are dealing with including:
=== You would expect that with all these services at their behest that they would be extremely successful in their results but most people come through multiple times a year. Because Front Yard is a crisis service, it helps the person and they are out the door. This apparently makes it feel like a revolving door. People come in with problems then leave with a better outlook and then back in with problems. ===
 * ===Job Services Australia: To deal with those who want to earn an income and get off the streets. ===
 * ===Youth Law: For those who are in trouble with the police and need someone to represent them for a small ammount of money. ===
 * ===Melbourne Youth Support Service: This is an aid for those who are going through addictions, have mental issues or family problems.This is basically counsellors talking to youths about their problems. ===
 * ===GateWay Reconnect: This is helping those with a possibility of slipping into homelessness.This program is more preventative than a "night after". ===
 * ===Young People Health services: This is for the large percentage of youth homeless that have serious medical conditions and need help dealing with them. ===
 * ===Youth Connections: Dealing with those youths that have dropped out of school at very low ages for various reasons.This is very important because the average age for homeless youths to drop out is year eight. ===
 * ===Family Reconciliation and Meditation Program: This focuses on the counseling of broken families and putting them back together. This would be a highly sought after service since domestic violence is one of the biggest reasons for youth homelessness. ===
 * ===Young and Pregnant Parenting Program: This deals with young women who are dealing with unwanted pregnancy or the young couples on the street who cannot support their children due to their condition. ===
 * ===Centrelink: Probably the most well known service; maybe because it is the most reliable. It supplies money (tax payers money) to those who just can't supply their own income. ===

=== The Melbourne city mission on Kings st is home to Front Yard and a dentist,hairdresser,nutritionist and several different counselors on site to deal with the 6000 different contacts that come every year. This is 6000 **different** contacts a year but 10,500 appointments including repeating contacts. ===

=== The Melbourne City Mission and Front Yard together are one of the most successful homeless crisis services in Australia. The focus on youth is also extremely important because it is somewhat of a preventative. I hope that The Melbourne City Mission and Front Yard continue to prosper in Melbourne and help all that need it. === = = =Back to Home =