Foyer Central first opened in March 2021, and Lily moved there in July of that year: “I think I was about the 20th person to move in.” Foyer Central is an innovative youth-housing model that provides 53 self-contained units for young people (aged 18-22) who are exiting out-of-home care and are at risk of homelessness.
With onsite wraparound services provided by Uniting, Foyer Central is a unique partnership between Uniting, Social Ventures Australia and SGCH, along with the NSW Department of Communities and Justice, NSW Office of Social Impact Investment and City of Sydney.
Of her time at Foyer Central, Lily says: “I really liked the place and the coaches, and the case workers were nice. The staff were great and the facilities and programs they run are really good, really supportive.”
When Lily moved into Foyer Central, she was in her second year of studying midwifery. She found it was hard to rent privately, especially because her course required her to go on placement. “Moving to Foyer Central when I did was helpful, because it was cheap and I had everything to support me through that period.”
Lily has now finished her degree and started a new job at Westmead Hospital in February. “I’m excited for a change, it’s so cool!”
Lily and her partner Anthony have been together almost six years, meeting through a mutual friend when they were both in Year 10. This is the couple’s first home together and they are very pleased to have a place of their own. Anthony has been living nearby in Granville and works full-time in retail at Wetherill Park (Westmead is about 20 minutes from there, so his commute time will remain roughly the same).
Being eligible for key worker affordable housing means the young couple will pay $352 in weekly rent, making it easier than renting privately.
Lily had come through kinship care with her grandparents and, after completing her HSC, she moved into a social housing apartment in Glebe. “I stayed there for roughly two years, but they wanted to demolish and redevelop the property, which is why I had to look for another place. My case worker at the time [from Entity] suggested Foyer Central, and that’s how I got in there. Entity had got me the place in Glebe and then helped me transition to Foyer.”
In terms of having SGCH as her tenancy manager and building up a rental history, Lily says: “I feel like it was really good, my place before didn’t really get back to me. Comparing St George to my previous housing, it’s so much better with everything, like repairs and communication. And from Highline, it takes me 10 to 15 minutes to walk to work.”
Lily shared that she has delivered over 30 babies already as part of finishing her degree. Though early on in her career, Lily is focused on support and advocacy: “Being part of helping women be educated and making sure there is informed consent around intervention is really important to me. It’s such a vulnerable time.”