Youth private rental subsidy scheme expanded

More young people will be eligible for assistance through the Youth Private Rental Subsidy with the scheme now set to expand to Wagga Wagga and the Central Coast.

The announcement of the scheme’s expansion was made by Minister for Social Housing Brad Hazzard at the launch of National Homelessness Prevention Week and follows the NSW Government’s commitment to allocate an additional $2 million to the scheme in the 2016/17 budget.

The Scheme is already available in the Hunter, Tamworth, Orange, Bathurst and Penrith/Blue Mountains areas and aims to reduce youth homelessness rates, in line with the Premier’s Priority.

Under the program, people aged 16-24 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness are provided with a support worker and if they take part in education, training and job seeking activities, they are eligible for a subsidy and pay no more than 25% of their income towards rent.