Richmond's crisis youth accommodation service, Turning Point, reopened its doors after several months’ forced closure on Monday.
‘‘We’re open again, for 16-18-year-olds who are homeless or at risk of homelessness,’’ Turning Point’s manager Jennifer Glavich said.
Late last year, Turning Point had to close after the Department of Family and Community Services found its earlier planning approval did not strictly allow for all kinds of accommodation.
Case worker Kellie Ridgeway said: ‘‘It really helps the kids to have an emergency accommodation they can come to right here.’’
Fellow case worker Adam MacKenzie said: ‘‘Young people in crisis in the Hawkesbury need to have a safe, local place to be.’’
Turning Point is operated by Platform Youth Services, which controls other emergency accommodation places in the Nepean and Blue Mountains.
Ms Glavich said the accommodation was usually for three months and for young people most in need.
But she stressed that crisis accommodation was not for everyone.
‘‘We want a 16-year-old to stay at home, if they can,’’ she said.
Information: Platform Youth Services, 4760 0800.
A longer story appears in the Hawkesbury Gazette, May 27, 2015.
