“More than I imagined”

Today is Youth Homelessness Matters Day. Sage, of Hobart, explains how his move five months ago into supported youth accommodation with Anglicare offers him stability, freedom and a new community to be a part of.

You’re a student in the Youth2Independence program, living at Trinity Hill in North Hobart. How are you finding it? I came to live at Trinity Hill after a period of homelessness, brought on by increased domestic violence in my home, and then living at the Annie Kenney shelter for several months. It’s been more than I imagined, and I’m very grateful. I have such a cute little studio apartment to call my own, and safety and stability for the first time in a long time.

What makes Trinity Hill feel like home? I really appreciate the freedom that Trinity gives me. I like that I can put whatever I want on my walls, I like that I can have houseplants, I like that I can come and go as I please, I like the amount of support I receive, and I like all the staff here. The community here are lovely and I have friends who live less than five metres away.

How do the staff support you? Several staff this year came to my gallery opening at the Youth & Art Recreation Centre (YARC). I have weekly meetings with Jacqui, our TasTAFE course teacher, and Crystal, my Youth Development Coach. Our facility supervisors do so much to keep our properties in good working order, including coming out at unreasonable hours to deal with plumbing disasters (thanks Joel!)

The staff get so excited about all we do. After coming to my exhibition Tarryn advocated for me to run a collage workshop for the Trinity residents, which was really fun, and I will be doing it again. The workshops are always a highlight even when I don’t run them; it’s a great way to meet people in a low stress environment and learn a new skill or about a topic.

What do you consider your strengths? I’m good at public speaking, I’m good at engaging with people, I’m good at writing and I really enjoy those things so they’re what I focus my energy on.

Tell us about your study and career goals. I’m on track to achieve my short term goal of finishing college. I’m enrolled in the Advanced Academic Diploma at Elizabeth College and I hope to graduate this year. In the long term, I plan to go to the University of Tasmania to study social work, so that I can help people like me to go through their lives successfully.

What sort of community activities are you involved in? I’ve been a member of the headspace youth reference group for several years. I’m actively involved with OUTspace, a member of YNOT’s youth voice network and the Lutruwita Socialist Alliance. Volunteering at the Mutual Aid Community Kitchen is the highlight of my week. I am heavily involved with Prevention not Detention, an advocacy group around youth and adult justice. I am an active member of the Grassroots Action Network, and a passionate youth debater.

What does Youth Homelessness Matters Day mean to you? 

It’s an acknowledgment of the many young people who struggle through homelessness in all its many forms. I’d like people to understand that there’s no one way a homeless person does or should look or act. Giving people grace is so important. While I was homeless it was very hard to see a future. Having stable and supportive housing like I have at Trinity is making a world of difference for me.

Heading for success

The Trinity Hill team was thrilled when Sage reached the semi-finals of the 2026 Tasmanian Young Achiever Awards.

When the opportunity arose to nominate a student in the Home Base Courage to Grow category of the awards, Sage sprang immediately to mind, says Youth Development Coach Crystal Ryan.

“He is pursuing goals across each of the six service offers in the Youth2Independence program – education, employment, housing and living skills, civic participation, social connections and health and wellbeing,” she said.

“We see this in his dedication to study and a career pathway; his casual job; his commitment to learning skills like budgeting and cooking; his voluntary work and the way he cultivates friendships and takes responsibility for his health.

Sage approaches life with enthusiasm, humour, creativity, a strong work ethic and empathy for others. He’s certainly an inspiration for both the students and staff at Trinity Hill.

PIC: Sage is pictured above at Melbourne Zoo.

More information

The Youth2Independence (Y2I) program is funded by the Tasmanian Government.

All Y2I students complete the Certificate 1 in Developing Independence that is offered in partnership with TasTAFE.

Anglicare manages other Y2I sites around the state, in Hobart, Launceston and Devonport. There is also a facility in Burnie that is managed by Youth, Family & Community Connections (YFCC).

Young people can reside at a Y2I site for up to two years and they are supported to transition into the private rental market after that time.

This week is Tasmanian Youth Week. Take a look at YNOT’s calendar of events here.

If you or someone you know is experiencing housing insecurity, please contact Housing Connect on 1800 800 588, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.