Welfare group Veritas House is seeking $200,000 to establish a transitional home in Orange for the city's homeless young people.
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Business development manager Narelle Stocks said there were about 150 people aged 16-24 who were in need of emergency housing in Orange.
She said there was a '50-50' split between males and females and many were still at high school.
Mrs Stocks said there was a mix of people sleeping outdoors, couch-surfing or living in refuges.
"Some are sleeping rough. It depends on the time of the year. In Orange, not in the winter time," she said.
Veritas House has a refuge in Orange that can provide accommodation for five people at one time, but there was a need for more housing.
"We help about 150 people in that age group each year. It is a constant [number]," she said.
Mrs Stocks said many fled their homes because of violence.
"Each one is in a different situation. It depends on their age and where they are on their journey," she said.
"Some are completing their HSC."
She said Veritas House staff assisted some students in completing their studies while they worked with others to find apprenticeships and other work.
However, she said homeless young people faced a major problem in obtaining private rental accommodation particularly when their previous address was listed as a crisis centre or refuge.
Veritas House has just received a $60,000 grant under the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation scheme to fit-out a transitional house for vulnerable young people in Orange.
Mrs Stocks said it was great news but they needed to find about $200,000 to buy a unit to set up as the transitional home.
"What we don't have in Orange is access to transitional housing," she said.
Funding for the project has so far reached $12,000.
"We hope it will be the catalyst for the community to get behind us," she said.
Mrs Stocks said Veritas House received a similar grant for a project in Bathurst last year which was now up and running.
"Young people generally will live there for up to six months," she said.
"We work with them to be good tenants."
She said that provided them with a stronger case to present to prospective landlords and real estate agency rental departments.
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