Narelle Clay and her team at Southern Youth and Families Centre do incredible work supporting young people and families in the Illawarra experiencing or facing homelessness.

We had the privilege of speaking with a few of the people who had benefited from their services and care. One of them was Ivan. He told us that without their help he would still be sleeping rough, dead or in jail. He spoke passionately about how finding safe and stable housing has made him a happier person and given his three boys the security they need.

Sadly, Ivan’s story is not unique. The bushfires and economic impacts of covid-19 have caused a housing crisis on the South Coast. Ivan’s story reminds us why we need a Labor government that will build 30,000 new homes for social and affordable housing across the country.