VIOLENCE in their communities and the prevalence of drugs and alcohol were among the major concerns raised by youths who lived in social housing at Dubbo.
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Young people had their say on their experiences living in social housing at Dubbo as part of a statewide consultation process on the Social Housing Discussion Paper, commissioned by the Department of Family and Community Services (FACS).
The session took part at Doorways, run by Uniting Care Burnside, this week, and saw nine youths provide feedback to consultants from Youth Action, an organisation that had been engaged by FACS to facilitate focus groups at Dubbo, Ambervale, Redfern and Macquarie Park.
The focus groups were designed to gain an insight into key issues for young people and their thoughts on how the system could change to better facilitate pathways to independence.
The groups would also provide direct feedback from young people into the consultation process.
"Young people in Dubbo are concerned about violence and safety in their community, a large amount of broken glass and discarded needles in the street and the prevalence of drugs and alcohol and the impact that has on their family and friends," Youth Action project development manager Jake Formosa said.
"Young people in Dubbo aspire to be in their own houses, spending time with their loved ones. They recognise the support they receive from youth services, and appreciate how that helps them achieve their dreams.
"They want to be encouraged to be the best they can be. They find it disheartening to be judged because of mistakes they have made." Mr Formosa said other research had indicated "buying a home is harder than ever and it is becoming increasingly difficult for young people to transition from supported accommodation into the private housing market".
FACS would release the findings of the consultation process after presenting it to the incoming government following next month's NSW state election.
