For young people transitioning out of the child protection and family support system, it can be a tumultuous and lonely time as they adjust to living independently. But it is hoped a newly established community of tiny homes in Adelaide can offer them much needed community support as they enter adulthood.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00A once-empty suburban lot transformed into a pop-up community.
00:08The final touches have been made, turning these tiny houses into homes for young people
00:14transitioning to a new way of life.
00:17Every day is hard, especially when you live independently, so this sort of gives them
00:22a bit of more comfort to grow in.
00:26Emerita Brown grew up in the care of the Department for Child Protection.
00:31When she left the system at the age of 18, she says it was a difficult and lonely time.
00:37But she hopes a housing project, supporting other young people through the transition,
00:43will make a difference.
00:44If there's small things, simple things that you struggle on, like paying rent, food shopping,
00:49there's people here that can help you with those sort of things, but it is an independent
00:52living thing, so you have to learn to do it on your own.
00:55Ten newly-constructed pod-style homes have been created as part of a $3 million project,
01:02a collaboration between the state government and housing provider Junction.
01:07These kids, they have trauma and they have such hard life experiences, they're not connected
01:13to family, their friendships are quite scattered, they can be from really remote areas.
01:19Along with housing, residents are helped to engage in education, find work and learn vital
01:25life skills.
01:27And there's hope more vacant lots around the state could be transformed.
01:32This is about providing 24-7 support to ensure that young people can equally and actively
01:40participate in our economy and in community life.
01:44A small step towards gaining independence.