The tiny home project in Wagga is already underway. Photo: Supplied.
Young people in custody at Wagga Wagga’s Riverina Youth Justice Centre are helping build a tiny home that will be donated to a community cause, while learning trade skills they hope they will take with them when they leave detention.
The project comes at a time when Wagga is grappling with one of the worst housing shortages in regional NSW, with homelessness becoming increasingly visible and governments scrambling to deliver more social housing.
The “tiny home” project sees young people work alongside Shepherds Park School, Regional Industry Education Partnerships (RIEP) at TAFE NSW and local tradespeople to design and construct the dwelling.
A spokesperson for the NSW Government said it was looking at a number of possible uses for the home, including short-term housing for homeless people, but nothing had been decided yet. A decision will be made when the home is complete in six to eight months.
“If we want young people to leave custody ready to make better choices, we have to give them real opportunities to learn and grow,” Minister for Youth Justice Jihad Dib said.
“While there has to be consequences for doing the wrong thing, these consequences should be about changing behaviour not seeking revenge.
“This is a great project, supported by Youth Justice staff at Riverina, the Shepherds School and the local community. It’s my hope that these young people will learn valuable, practical skills, and build connections with the local building industry, which could turn into future careers.”
Participants are learning to read technical plans, work safely on construction sites and develop practical skills including framing, plumbing, tiling and basic electrical work.
The tiny home is expected to be built in six to eight months. Photo: Supplied.
They will also receive mentoring from local building industry professionals, with organisers hoping those connections could lead to employment opportunities after their release.
The initiative comes as housing remains a major issue across Wagga. The city has seen a sharp rise in homelessness, with tent encampments along the Murrumbidgee River and at Wilks Park and a move by the council to relocate people receiving statewide attention in recent months. The NSW Government has announced new factory-built social homes and brought forward parts of the Tolland Estate renewal project in response to growing pressure to increase housing supply.
Youth Justice Minister Jihad Dib visited the centre on Monday (20 July) to inspect the early stages of the build, as well as refurbishment works underway at the facility.
The Riverina Youth Justice Centre is receiving upgrades as part of the NSW Government’s $138.4 million investment in Youth Justice staff and facilities. The work includes upgraded ceilings and windows, new flooring, improved dining facilities and security improvements.
The centre has also received a new Incident Response Team as part of an expansion across the state’s six Youth Justice centres.
Wagga MP Dr Joe McGirr said giving young people practical skills was an important part of reducing reoffending.
“By learning the practical skills of building a home, the young people are also gaining life skills that can help to change directions and build brighter futures, and I thank all those who gave their time, skill and enthusiasm to this valuable project,” he said.
