Signposts
PICYS Household Network
Years of Operation1980 - ongoing
Role Of FacilityPICYS was established in 1980 by a group of agencies, primarily churches, to address the needs of young people in the inner city.
Described in 1983 as being a personalised community based system of household networks coordinated by a centralised house coordinator - providing open-ended emergency accommodation for young homeless people.
“Streetwork” and “The Cave” operated between 1981 and 1986.
Described in 1988 as providing accommodation in a number of shared houses for males and females aged 10 to 25 years. Support to both the young people and the householders was provided by two coordinators on an external basis.
Described in 1995 as providing “medium to long term support and accommodation to young men and women who are homeless and in crisis in order to assist them to move to independent living.” Up to 8 young people could access long-term accommodation.
Described in 2001 as providing safe supported accommodation services to young people who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless.
Sponsoring AgencyPICYS Household Network (Perth Inner City Youth Service)
Currently, Perth Inner City Youth Service Inc.
Address(es)1983: 129 Goderich Street, East Perth; 20 Blencowe Street, West Leederville
1988: 440 William Street, Northbridge
1989: Leederville/Subiaco
1990: 286 Hay Street, East Perth
Most recently: 22 Blencowe Street, West Leederville
AliasesHousehold Network, PICYS
Brief HistoryFunding for this service was originally provided through the Youth Supported Accommodation Program, which was a sub-program of the Commonwealth/State funded Supported Accommodation Assistance Programme (SAAP). From 2009, funding continues to be provided through the National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA). [For notes on this program see the section on NAHA/SAAP at the beginning of Signposts].

The service operated in 1989 in the Leederville / Subiaco area.
In 1994, PICYS was described as providing youth accommodation services to 16-25 year olds.
In 1995, PICYS’s Funding Agreement with the Department outlined the purpose of the funded services, the service objectives and performance indicators:
The purpose of PICYS was to “provide medium to long term support and accommodation to young men and women who are homeless and in crisis in order to assist them to move to independent living.”
Service Objectives:
“Young people have interpersonal skills to develop and sustain personal and where appropriate family networks.
Young people are able to participate more widely in the community and access social, educational and employment options.
Young people in need are provided with stable supported accommodation.
Young people move on to longer term stable non-SAAP accommodation.” (Funding Agreement between PICYS and Family and Children’s Services 1995, as reported in the Out of Home, Preventative and Alternative Care Services Review, “Terms of Reference”, Family and Children’s Services, 1995).
In 2001 the Perth Inner City Youth Service was located in West Leederville and provided supported accommodation services to young people (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders). The service had the capacity to provide medium to long term accommodation for up to 8 young people. (Service Agreement with the Department for Child Protection).
RecordsDepartmental case records for young people referred by the Department may reside with the Department for Child Protection.
It is unknown whether any other records are still in existence.
The Department may be able to assist people wishing to contact PICYS to see if they hold case records or other information that may be useful to people.
AccessWhile access to records is restricted to protect the privacy of individuals, people are encouraged to enquire.
Contact DetailsFreedom of Information
Department of Communities
Locked Bag 5000, Fremantle WA 6959
Telephone: (08) 6217 6888
Country free call: 1800 176 888
Email: foi@communities.wa.gov.au
Website: www.communities.wa.gov.au
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