PICYS (Perth Inner City Youth Service) Household Network (1980 - )

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PICYS (Perth Inner City Youth Service) Household Network is referred to in the Western Australian guide Signposts as being a personalised community based system of household networks coordinated by a centralised house coordinator - providing open-ended emergency accommodation for young homeless people.

"Streetwork" and "The Cave" operated between 1981 and 1986.

Described in 1988 as providing accommodation in a number of shared houses for males and females aged 10 to 25 years. Support to both the young people and the householders was provided by two coordinators on an external basis.

Described in 1995 as providing "medium to long term support and accommodation to young men and women who are homeless and in crisis in order to assist them to move to independent living." Up to 8 young people could access long-term accommodation.

Described in 2001 as providing safe supported accommodation services to young people who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless.

Sponsoring Agency: PICYS Household Network (Perth Inner City Youth Service)

Earlier adresses:

1983: 129 Goderich Street, East Perth; 20 Blencowe Street, West Leederville

1988: 440 William Street, Northbridge

1989: Leederville/Subiaco

1990: 286 Hay Street, East Perth

Funding for this service has been provided through the Youth Supported Accommodation Program, which was a sub-program of the Commonwealth/State funded Supported Accommodation Assistance Programme (SAAP). [For notes on this program see the section on SAAP at the beginning of Signposts].

The service operated in 1989 in the Leederville / Subiaco area. In 1994, PICYS was described as providing youth accommodation services to 16-25 year olds. In 1995, PICYS's Funding Agreement with the Department outlined the purpose of the funded services, the service objectives and performance indicators:

The purpose of PICYS was to "provide medium to long term support and accommodation to young men and women who are homeless and in crisis in order to assist them to move to independent living."

Service Objectives:

"Young people have interpersonal skills to develop and sustain personal and where appropriate family networks.

Young people are able to participate more widely in the community and access social, educational and employment options.

Young people in need are provided with stable supported accommodation.

Young people move on to longer term stable non-SAAP accommodation."

(Funding Agreement between PICYS and Family and Children's Services 1995, as reported in the Out of Home, Preventative and Alternative Care Services Review, "Terms of Reference", Family and Children's Services, 1995).

In 2001 the Perth Inner City Youth Service was located in West Leederville and provided supported accommodation services to young people (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders). The service had the capacity to provide medium to long term accommodation for up to 8 young people. (Service Agreement with the Department for Community Development).