Frontyard Youth Services, operated by Melbourne City Mission, is a critical support service for young people aged 12–24 who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness across Victoria. Located in Melbourne’s CBD, Frontyard is the state’s only integrated, specialist youth homelessness access point, providing a central hub of multi-disciplinary services to support young people in ...
Melbourne City Mission
Frontyard Youth Services
GOAL
$496,342
Australia
Field of Interest
- Housing and homelessness
- Individual/family services and support
Melbourne City Mission
Established in 1854, Melbourne City Mission (MCM) is a leading non-profit community service organisation in Victoria that uplifts and empowers the most vulnerable and disadvantaged members of the community through a broad range of support in: Homelessness, Disability, Mental Health, Early Childhood and Secondary Level Education, Child and Family Services, and Palliative Care.
Project Summary
Frontyard Youth Services, operated by Melbourne City Mission, is a critical support service for young people aged 12–24 who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness across Victoria. Located in Melbourne’s CBD, Frontyard is the state’s only integrated, specialist youth homelessness access point, providing a central hub of multi-disciplinary services to support young people in crisis.
Frontyard offers a comprehensive, holistic service model including crisis accommodation, case management, health and wellbeing services, legal advice, education and employment support, and life skills programs. With initiatives like the Circuit Breaker Accommodation Program and the innovative Disruptive Model introduced in 2019, Frontyard ensures young people not only access immediate safety but are also connected to long-term solutions and ongoing portable support.
Each year, Frontyard responds to over 60,000 calls and supports approximately 1,600 young people with 3,281 individual service engagements. Services are tailored to meet each young person’s unique needs, including outreach efforts to engage hard-to-reach youth directly in their environments.
As youth homelessness continues to rise, exacerbated by family violence, housing crises, and cost of living pressures, Frontyard plays an essential role in disrupting cycles of disadvantage. Partially funded by ongoing government support, Frontyard's continued operation relies on the generous support of partners committed to creating real, lasting change.
Frontyard’s work embodies MCM’s mission: believing in each young person’s potential and ensuring they have the support to transition from crisis to independence and hope.
Project Outcomes
Through its integrated model of support, Frontyard Youth Services aims to achieve transformative outcomes for young people facing homelessness. By offering immediate crisis accommodation and wrap-around case management, Frontyard will support young people to secure safe, stable housing and develop the skills needed for long-term independence.
Frontyard’s Circuit Breaker Accommodation Program alone provided 556 instances of crisis accommodation in 2023, with the broader program delivering over 3,000 supports across services to young people. These outcomes contribute directly to reducing rates of youth homelessness in Victoria.
Expected outcomes include an increase in the number of young people accessing permanent housing solutions, re-engaging with education or employment pathways, and improving their physical and mental wellbeing through partnerships with healthcare providers. Frontyard’s mobile assertive outreach will continue to connect disengaged young people who might otherwise remain unsupported.
Additional outcomes include greater community awareness and advocacy impact through programs like the School Engagement Program and the Youth Action Group, empowering young people to lead change initiatives. The Peer Support Worker Program and lived experience consultation via the Frontyard Youth Advisory Committee further ensure services remain youth-centred and responsive.
Frontyard also aims to strengthen resilience and self-efficacy among young people by delivering life skills training in areas such as budgeting, cooking, and relationship building.
Ultimately, Frontyard’s holistic approach addresses not only the immediate crises faced by young people but also equips them with the resources, confidence, and networks needed to build a future free from homelessness and systemic disadvantage.
Budget Breakdown
TOTAL BUDGET: $1,074,493
FUNDING
| Funding source | Amount |
|---|---|
| Government | $480,000 |
| Corporate Philanthropy | $100,000 |
EXPENSES
| Expense item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Wages | $472,271 |
| Crisis Accomodation | $223,750 |
| Material Aid and Client Brokerage | $109,238 |
| General expenses, Mobile phones, Vehicles | $25,468 |
| Property - Utilities and Venue Hire | $92,766 |
| Corporate Costs | $97,849 |
| Consultants | $55,000 |
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