Youthcare welcomes funding

HERVEY Bay’s youth homeless centre, Youthcare, has welcomed a funding announcement from the Federal Government.

The government has committed an extra $10 million to help mentally ill people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

George Seymour, president of Youthcare Hervey Bay, said the extra funding was a definite step in the right direction.

“Churches, charities and the community at large have known for a long time that this is one of the defining social issues of our time and the Federal Government’s recognition of the scale and significance of it is certainly welcome.

“It is too early for us to see the results statistically, but day-in and day-out services in regional towns and the cities are achieving results in helping people re-engage with the community and get their lives back on track,” Mr Seymour said.