What is Home Stretch?
Home Stretch is a program seeking to help ease the move into adulthood for young people who have been in care. Rather than losing support once they turn 18, Home Stretch allows young people to continue receiving support until they turn 21. Part of a Statewide network of providers, Kwaba Bidi provides support to young Aboriginal people in the South West region.
What support can children leaving care receive from Home Stretch?
The Home Stretch program consists of several elements designed to help make the move to adulthood for participants as easy as possible.
Transition Coach
When the young person joins the program, they will be supported by a dedicated Kwaba Bidi youth worker who will provide one-on-one support for the duration of their time with Home Stretch. They will work to build their self-reliance and skills, alongside their connection to community, culture and community.
Housing Support
To help the young person to maintain stable housing, support is offered to either their carers or the young person themselves. If they remain in their carer’s home, the carer will receive a fortnightly subsidy and support, on the expectation the young person will help with living expenses through their own income. If they leave their carer’s home, the young person may be able to access a housing allowance, with an emphasis on providing them the skills and support needed to secure and maintain the housing security.
Invest in Me Fund
The young person will be given the ‘right’ to a visible and secure financial safety net for resources to support them towards their aspirations and goals, or for crisis relief.
Support Circles
We will work with the young person to assist them to grow and maintain their network of personal, family and community connections.
How Does a Young Person join Home Stretch?
If a young person chooses to receive Home Stretch support, they will need to request that they be referred to Home Stretch by the Department of Communities. The referral can be done by either their Department of Communities case worker or a representative of the District Office.
If they choose to be referred when they are 17, they will be invited to a meeting six months before their 18th birthday to discuss how the program will work and prepare them for the transition. A young person can be referred anytime until they are 20 years and nine months old.
Additional Information
Kwaba Bidi delivers Home Stretch for young Aboriginal people in the South West through a sub-contract with Mission Australia. You can find information on their additional support below.
You can also learn more about the Home Stretch WA program on the State Government website.