Meet former foster child Felicity
Nineteen-year-old Felicity was eight years old when she was placed into state care in regional South Australia.
After some serious lobbying from her church group, Felicity and her cat Hazel finally caught a break – a spot in a pilot program for youth leaving care aged 18-25. “The program saved me in so many ways,” says Felicity, who was among the first 15 young people involved in AnglicareSA and Believe Housing Australia’s Post Care Pathways (PCP) program when she arrived in May last year. The program’s award-winning service model, developed by AnglicareSA, supports up to 15 young care leavers to avoid or permanently exit homelessness by providing subsidised, stable accommodation, support services and life-long friendships and community connections. Felicity spent eight months in the program and subsequently found long-term, affordable accommodation. AnglicareSA Executive General Manager of Community Services Nancy Penna says the program had so far provided 23 young people leaving care immediate access to housing during one of our nation’s most challenging economic and social times. “Growing up is a challenge for everyone, but increasingly it is more difficult for young South Australians leaving care,” says Ms Penna.
She moved through nine foster homes and a homeless shelter until eventually ending up in a shared residential care home in Adelaide at age 16. However, the hardest challenge, says the inspirational teenager, was yet to come. On her 18th birthday, she exited the child protection system as an adult and was no longer eligible for the independent supported accommodation where she had found some stability for six months. With the global pandemic driving up record rentals costs and slashing vacancy rates, Felicity’s fixed income locked her out of the private rental market and the wait for public housing was months, if not years, away. With no family to support her, she was facing homelessness. National Institute of Health and Welfare data says an 18-year-old leaving the child protection system faces a 60 per cent chance of being homeless by the time they turn 20. “No young person should have to leave the support of the child protection system and be put on the streets” says Felicity. “If you asked me what the scariest part of my life has been so far, I would say the fear of almost becoming homeless would be it.”
INSPIRATIONAL: nineteen-year-old Felicity
Some of the programs young tenants have transitioned into private rental and social housing and almost all of those currently supported by the program are engaged in education and training or are employed. Felicity is studying to become and youth worker and in 2020 published her autobiography, Not Held Down . She is also about to launch a new business called ‘Fostering Change Australia’ to advocate for foster
Make your tax-deductible donation today and help provide the support needed to make the transition into adulthood a little less bumpy and provide hope for a future that’s a whole lot brighter. Together we change lives. The PCP program is fully funded by AnglicareSA and requires donations to continue and expand. There are currently more than a dozen young people waiting to access the PCP program. Some have been waiting for six months. children and young people in care. Every week she returns to PCP to visit staff and the young people that remain there. Your support will help more young people, just like Felicity
Online donations: www.anglicaresa.com.au and click Donate Post your cheque to: Spring Appeal, 159 Port Road, Hindmarsh SA 5007 Contact the Fundraising team on: 08 8305 9200 or donate@anglicaresa.com.au
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