The launch of Village 21 in Preston

The launch of Village 21 in Preston is giving young people exiting care the chance of a brighter future.

A first-of-its-kind, Village 21 provides studios for six young people, giving them a stable home, wrap around supports and communal living elements for up to three years.

Funded by the Victorian Government and delivered in partnership with Anglicare Victoria, Village 21 is designed to interrupt the spiral of homelessness young people leaving Out of Home Care (OoHC) often find themselves on.

18-year-old Kiren was one of the first young people to move into Village 21, having spent most of his life in OoHC. For young people like Kiren, the village will provide an opportunity to successfully transition to independence.

“I’ve been living at Village 21 for a few months now. Before this I was sleeping on my mate’s couch for a month,” Kiren said.

“Places like Village 21 give people like me a place to stay and study and learn and go out into the future – a way to get back onto your feet”

We were honoured to have The Hon. Richard Wynne, Minister for Housing, officially launch Village 21. “There’s nothing more important we can do than to provide people in need with safe, secure and affordable housing, and Village 21 is a wonderful example of that,” Minister Wynne said at the launch.

“This wonderful partnership between Anglicare Victoria and Kids Under Cover is not just about housing. We understand the fundamental importance of housing, but it’s also about the wrap-around services to support young people through their transition from out-of-home care to independent living.”

Want to see the village for yourself? Take a virtual walk through of Village 21 here.