Anglicare PASS program
Anglicare PASS Program workers Mardie Blair and Andrrea Owens during a recent PASS promotional event in Launceston.
Homes are urgently needed for struggling youth in Tasmania.
As the new school year approaches Anglicare's Placement and Support Service urgently needs volunteers to provide a spare rooms to young people in need.
'The Placement and Support Service (PASS) has been unable to help some young people who are in desperate need of accommodation because of the shortage of volunteers,' said Children's Services manager, Steven Bradford.
The PASS teams always do their best to support young clients but we have been unable to take any new clients as we don't have enough volunteers.
Many young Tasmanians are unable to stay with their families in their own homes for a variety of reasons and are forced to 'couch-surf' with friend or relatives.
Moving from home to home or bunking down on a mate's couch for a couple of nights is no way to start the new school year. Young people can't be expected to cope with the demands of study when they are worrying about where they are going to sleep at night.
The PASS program works with young people to establish a stable home life where they are safe to study, build stronger relationships and, wherever possible, helps the young person to reconcile any family differences.
Volunteers need to be willing to provide a spare room and board to a young person in need and the PASS team provides the ongoing support. It doesn't have to be a long-term commitment; it can be for a week or a couple of months.
Volunteers are matched to young people depending on the length of stay needed. The PASS team can also offer support to people who already have a young person living in their home who are unable to stay with their own family.
If you would like to know more or know of a young person who may need some support please call 1800 243 232.