Yfoundations

Yfoundations is the New South Wales peak body representing children and young people at risk of and experiencing homelessness and provides services that provide direct support to them. With a focus on working closely with young people with a lived experience of homelessness, Yfoundations aims to bridge the gap between the private and not-for-profit sectors. Trish Connolly is the CEO of Yfoundations and is passionate about helping young people out of homelessness through a mixture of advocacy and leadership. Over 28,000 young Australians (age 12-24) are homeless on any given night in Australia. Youth homelessness is increasing at an epidemic rate. In NSW alone youth homelessness has increased at an alarming 92% rate in ten years, with more than 9,000 youths recorded as homeless in the latest Census. Working collaboratively with members, NGOs, government departments and community members, Yfoundations provides policy and structural advocacy, services for young people, health projects, and research and sector development. YFoundations has identified the five foundations below as vital to the growth and development of all children and young people: • Safety and Stability • Home and Place • Health and Wellness • Connections and Participation • Education and Employment Each foundation represents an important component of a child and young person’s developmental process. Yfoundations believe that with access to mechanisms that support the development and attainment of each foundation, a child or young person is more likely to enter adulthood with the skills, interests, competencies and healthy behaviours necessary to realise, and attain their full potential, and build a productive and bright future. The future of Yfoundations is to be the trusted leading voice for youth homeless in NSW striving to increase the current capacity of youth homelessness services and providing expertise to government, state and federal, on the issues of youth homelessness.