This Background Paper has been prepared by Yfoundations in consultation with a Working Group of its member organisations to inform the development of the Yfoundations Position Paper on the NSW Government’s intended reform of the Temporary Accommodation Program.

The purpose of this Background Paper and the Position Paper it informs is to:

• Identify the key issues that need to be considered to ensure that the NSW Government’s intended reforms of the Temporary Accommodation Program meet the needs of young people experiencing homelessness;
• Outline the principles for, and core requirements of, potential funded models of youth specific supported temporary accommodation;
• Provide guidance to youth Specialist Homelessness Services considering seeking funding to provide supported temporary accommodation as part of the Government’s reforms in this program area; and
• Explore the relative merits of different models of youth specific supported temporary accommodation in the context of the Government’s reform objectives and the principles identified for investment in this area.