Kids Under Cover supports vulnerable young people between the ages of 12 and 25 who are either already homeless or at risk of homelessness by building homes and providing scholarship and mentors.
The Kids Under Cover Studio program is a unique model, which prevents youth homelessness. Relocatable studios, specifically designed by Ortech Industries in Bendigo, are situated in the backyard of the carer’s property to accommodate one or two young people at risk of homelessness. Studios are built on, or relocated to, the carer’s property at the request of a KUC-member non-government organisation (NGO) or government departmental agency that is providing support to the young person.
The Studio provides secure and stable accommodation over the medium to long term while issues placing the young person at risk of homelessness are resolved. Once the Studio is no longer required, KUC relocates it to another young person and family in urgent need of accommodation and support.
In the final weeks of the 2011/12 financial year the Peter and Lyndy White Foundation provided an overwhelmingly generous gift to the Kids Under Cover Studio Program. The gift was the largest ever single donation received by Kids Under Cover.
This grant from the Peter and Lyndy White Foundation enabled Kids Under Cover to provide 10 Studios over 2012/13 to young people at risk of homelessness, creating a significant impact on the largest waiting list Kids Under Cover had experienced to date.
The Foundation’s grant to Kids Under Cover funded studios in both metropolitan and regional Victoria in the following locations:
• Carlsruhe
• Heidelberg West
• Meadow Heights
• Mooroolbark
• Paynesville
• Seaford
• Sebastopol
• Stratford
• Thomson
• Wodonga
This overwhelming gift followed careful review of the efficacy and sustainability of the Studio program, particularly on the positive impact it has on young people, their family and their community. Kids Under Cover tracks the outcomes of the Studio program through an annual impact survey, and via direct communication with families and the support workers.
The long term benefits of the grant are magnified by the fact that each relocatable studio has a life of up to 20 years. Over this period, each studio can support up to 5 different young people (and their families) through our Studio relocation activities.
For more information about the Studio Program please visit
http://www.kuc.org.au/what-wedo/studio-program