Youth Transition House

Methodist Mission Southern (MMS) opened the Youth Transition House Ōtepoti in February 2018 and the Waihōpai Youth Transition House in December 2019. MMS wish to acknowledge the support of the Waihōpai Rūnaka in the gifting of Te Whare Whakawhiti to our Waihopai YTH.

YTH Ōtepoti and Waihōpai provides homeless 16-19 year-olds with a safe, comfortable space to live while they continue with foundation education, training and/or employment, and develop the essential resources and living skills they need to make a supported transition to independent living. 

MMSouthern works closely with other local service providers in Dunedin and Invercargill to ensure the YTH best meets the needs of young people, and achieves optimum outcomes for residents – in terms of finding and retaining sustainable accommodation, encouraging personal wellbeing and development, and supporting positive outcomes relating to education, training and employment.

YTH Overview:

• Accommodate 6 young people at a time.
• Transition approx. 24+ young people per year into sustainable accommodation.
• Residents to be enrolled in an education or training course or engaged in suitable employment, (or able to do so immediately after commencing residency).
• Evening and night-time support and supervision provided by overnight staff at the facility.
• Individual case management and action plans with Client Support Workers using FIT and quality assurance systems to monitor progress towards goals.
• Supported education, training and employment options, ranging from the development of foundation skills, to Youth Guarantee unit standards and NCEA qualification achievement.
• Supported access to vocational training and links with local employers.
• Individual assistance with job and accommodation searching.
• On-site access to personal development and life skills initiatives and health services.
• Supported referrals to specialist providers (GPs, addiction, mental health services etc.).
• Ongoing post-residency support from Client Support Worker to ensure successful transitions.

Intended Outcomes for YTH Residents:

• Accommodation: sustainable transitions to stable accommodation.
• Education: improved foundation skills and achievement of foundation qualifications.
• Employment: improved employment skills and employment outcomes.
• Health: improved physical, mental and sexual health outcomes.
• Personal development: improved self-management skills, leading to long-term resiliency.

YTH is part-funded by Ministry of Social Development, with additional funding sourced from community donations and volunteer contributions. 

If you would like to contribute please contact:

• Dunedin: Stacey - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - 03 487-7959
• Invercargill: Ngaire - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - 03 928-5647

If you would like to find out more about Youth Transition House Ōtepoti or Waihōpai, please contact Sue Clarke – 03 466 3024