THE YOUTH HOMELESSNESS TASKFORCE IN MELTON

In 1989, the-then Victorian State Labour Government, Australia initiat ed the Youth Homelessness Taskforce in response to Our Homeless Childr en, the report of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (1 989). This paper describes the rapidly developing outer urban communit y of Melton, and the work of the Youth Homelessness Taskforce in Melto n. The authors characterise that work as community intervention. They place this approach within the context of other approaches to communit y work, and analyse its impact on Melton. It is unlikely that all of t he conditions of the establishment of the Taskforce in Melton will eve r be replicated, but reflections on our experience may prove useful in designing strategies for human services in other developing communiti es.