Staff at Hume Central Secondary College intervened after Hayden started skipping school to catch up on sleep. They referred the young man to the closest Education First Youth Foyer, an initiative that places young people at risk of homelessness in subsidised housing on TAFE campuses, provided they engage in education. New evidence shows the model is working. A year after exiting the program, 85 per cent of young people were engaged in work or education and three-quarters had completed year 12 or a certificate 3 or higher. Half of the participants were living in their own home and just 1 per cent were living in crisis accommodation, down from 30 per cent before the program. Most importantly, nearly all participants reported living in a place where they felt safe.

Victoria has three Youth Foyers in Glen Waverley, Broadmeadows and Shepparton and each site accommodates up to 40 young people aged between 16 and 24. The model is a collaboration between the Brotherhood of St Laurence and Launch Housing and students must sign "a deal" before they move into the studio-style apartments with communal areas. They must agree to maintain an attendance rate of at least 85 per cent in their chosen course and complete workshops to improve their life skills, mental health and employment prospects. Support staff are available at all hours of the day. The world-first initiative, which is now in its ninth year, provides an entirely new approach to youth homelessness, according to Brotherhood of St Laurence executive director Conny Lenneberg.

"The Education First Youth Foyers enable young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to study within mainstream education, gain skills and jobs and, importantly, to realise their true potential and talents," she said. Housing Minister Richard Wynne said the model was breaking the cycle of homelessness and delivering long-term benefits. Hayden now has hopes of training as a psychologist. Credit:Jason South "This service provides stable housing and support with education, training and employment that young people need to get their future off to a better start,” he said. The Andrews government recently expanded its Skills First Youth Access Initiative to allow Youth Foyer residents to access free government-subsidised training.

Training and Skills Minister Gayle Tierney said this would open up even more opportunities for vulnerable young people. Hayden moved into the Broadmeadows Foyer a few months before his year 12 exams and hasn't looked back. "It's given me an opportunity," he said. He pays $127 a fortnight for his tiny apartment, which contains a cooktop, fridge, bathroom and a desk – something he's never owned before. Dedicated staff at the Youth Foyer built up Hayden's confidence, referred him to a dentist who fixed his teeth and taught him how to be independent. "They keep you on track," he said.

He now knows how to cook, clean and do the washing. These skills will come in handy when he moves into a private rental property in September. The 20-year-old is now chasing his lifelong dream of being a psychologist and completing a criminal justice and psychological studies degree at Victoria University. When he's not studying, he's working part-time at Kmart, exercising at the gym and rebuilding his relationship with his father. He wants to help other young people like himself. "I have always liked helping people with problems and issues," he said.