Accommodation is provided in specially established facilities which include family group homes and hostels, medium term units and home based services such as foster care and adolescent community placements. The emphasis is to place children within their own extended family or network to minimise disruption. Approximately 3,000 Victorian children and young people are placed in accommodation services at any given time. The Victorian Government provides support for homeless young people via a number of programs. Homeless young people are one of five identified target groups in the program.
Services range from short term crisis support to longer term transitional support.
Outreach services are also provided. Accommodation may be directly provided or the service links the client to externally available accommodation. Approximately 7,500 young people are supported for varying periods in any one year. In addition approximately 3,000 children with accompanying adults access SAAP services. The majority of such children are under five years old.