Our History

Latitude has been operating within the Hobsons Bay Area going back prior to the local council mergers of 1994-96. Whilst Latitude might have looked and named differently when under the guise of Altona Youth Housing Group, it still operated then under the same ethos as it does today.

By 1997 Altona Youth Housing had merged with the Williamstown Youth Housing Group to become Baywest Youth Housing Group. The organisation now covered a larger area and therefore more clients across the municipality of what is now Hobsons Bay. Not only supporting young people, who were homeless or at risk of being homeless, the Group also managed a number of tenancy properties utilised by clients. By the early 2000’s properties were taken out of the control of individual groups, funding began to squeeze, and the larger organisations began to assert their influence within the youth homelessness sector.

Not ever being an organisation that sits back to see what evolves, Baywest began liaising with four likeminded small youth housing groups across the Western suburbs to consider what opportunities might exist for these smaller groups to remain viable and effective. Whilst all five groups had similar philosophies, they could not find a way to merge into a single entity.

What did evolve was Latitude: Directions for Young People, not just a merger of Baywest and Essendon Youth Accommodation Group but a merger of strong philosophies on youth homelessness. In 2009, Latitude was born, with staff merging from the previous organisations bringing with them new skills, drive and enthusiasm. A new Committee of Management brought not just a strong cross section of the community, but skills and knowledge relevant to supporting Latitude’s work in a rapidly changing environment.

LATITUDE RESPONSE TO COVID-19:
During the 2020/21 pandemic people experiencing homelessness were provided with access to short term emergency hotel accommodation. To assist, Latitude pivoted their services to providing support to any at-risk individuals regardless of age. During these harsh days of the lockdowns, the Latitude Team continued to deliver outreach services to anyone who needed it, whilst ensuring that young people who engaged in Latitude services prior to the pandemic, were also safe and provided with essential items, information and support.

Forming part of a localized community response to people accommodated in rooming houses, Latitude delivered face masks, COVID-19 information and other essential items. By the end of the initial phase of the pandemic, Latitude had provided some form of support to over 160 people in hotels and visited 25 rooming houses. While Latitude has been happy to assist Melbourne’s vulnerable populations in this uncertain time, we are also pleased to announce that we have now returned to our unique and specific terms of reference, assisting and supporting young people at risk or experiencing homelessness.

Today Latitude remains a strong advocate for young people in the western suburbs of Melbourne.