By Laura Michell
The COVID-19 pandemic is taking its toll on youth living in Melbourne’s northern and north-western suburbs, with hundreds of young people reaching out to Youth Projects for help each week.
The charity provides frontline support to young people experiencing disadvantage, unemployment, homelessness, alcohol and other drug issues, and runs a number of education, employment and drop-in services.
Youth Projects chief executive Ben Vasiliou said the organisation was conducting about 300 to 350 telephone appointments per week with young people living in Hume and Whittlesea, who were in need of support during the coronavirus crisis.
He said some youth support agencies have closed their doors in response to the pandemic, but Youth Projects was continuing to offer all of its services.
“We need to listen to [young people] and listen to their needs. We want them to know this is going to end … we are here and we are hopeful,” Mr Vasiliou said.
Youth Projects has noticed a spike in young people who are unemployed or homeless since the crisis began.
Mr Vasiliou said many young people had turned to couch surfing or living on the streets because they did not have a safe place to isolate, and there were not enough refuge beds available.
He said young people were often the first to lose their jobs in times of crisis, compounding the problem.
“The job hunt has become much more difficult and young people are being put to the bottom of the pile,” he said.
Mr Vasiliou said Youth Projects was trying to ease the impact on young people by offering online employment and mindfulness sessions to help them prepare for life after the virus.
However, he warned support services would see a rise in young people seeking help when the pandemic is over,
“We need to start the road to recovery now … we need to start transitioning young people back to normal life. We need to make sure jobs are available,” he said.
