By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
A LUXURY $79,000 one-off caravan is housing homeless youths around Geelong.
But they don’t get to call the unique seven-metre caravan home – it’s being raffled to raise $100,000 to build two relocatable studio units.
Caravan Industry Association of Victoria (CIAV) is selling tickets to the raffle as part of its From Living Tough to Living Safe campaign in association with charity Kids Under Cover.
Association chief Rob Lucas said demand for the studio units in Geelong was high.
“The demand is more than Kids Under Cover can cope with and the issue is bigger than most people in comfortable positions would think about,” Mr Lucas said.
“This is a pro-active campaign aimed at providing an appropriate intervention where a young person can’t live at home for whatever reason.
“This solution will give them their own time and space and relieve families under stress.”
Mr Lucas said many keen caravanners in the Geelong region were supporting the campaign.
“Geelong plays a significant role in the caravan industry, with everything from manufacturing and supplies to retailers and tourist operators.
“The caravan industry has a strong family connection. We’e a lifestyle industry bringing families together, so we saw this as a great way of lending our assistance.
“The studios have had a significant impact on the lives of many homeless youth. We’ve seen lives many would have thought lost to the streets turned around dramatically.”
Geelong so far has 23 relocatable one and two-bedroom units with bathrooms housing homeless youths. Each studio costs $55,000.
Mr Lucas said the economic returns to the community were significant, with every dollar spent on constructing a studio saving on average $3.30 in health and justice costs.
Mr Lucas said a number of CIAV members came up with the idea of building the unique luxury caravan from scratch, donating time and materials.
“It really is a one-off – you won’t see anything like it anywhere else. It’s loaded with every feature you could think of.”
The luxury caravan will be raffled at Melbourne Leisurefest, Sandown Racecourse, on 5 October.
Mr Lucas said tickets were available by phoning 9372 5388 or visiting gomakesomememeories.com.au.
