The Property Industry Foundation (PIF) builds homes for established youth homelessness charities, like Burdekin, providing safe and supportive housing for young people. They collaborate with organisations in the property and construction industry to fund their projects and initiatives.
“Over the last 18 months we have undertaken tremendous growth, opening new houses for vulnerable young people. The houses we have opened have immediately become homes, due to the wonderful work The Property Industry Foundation does in partnership with very generous organisations,” said Graham Bargwanna, Head of Business & Stakeholder Development at Burdekin.
Property renovation in Balgowlah – ‘The Haven Project’
The ‘Haven House’ project in Balgowlah was an exciting property renovation that became a home for Burdekin’s young people, initially a young mother.
The Property Industry Foundation, SMLXL Projects and Bridge Housing teamed up with Burdekin in support of Burdekin’s Youth Housing Program to renovate a two-bedroom house – Haven House – with Bridge Housing administering the lease arrangements with the young people.
The Haven Project (an initiative of the Property Industry Foundation) builds homes for well-established youth homelessness charities, like Burdekin. They offer volunteer opportunities for teams to make a house a home, taking teams of colleagues and friends and putting together the living spaces for young people.
Graham Bargwanna, Head of Business and Stakeholder Development at Burdekin said:
“Burdekin are so thrilled and grateful for the support of The Property Industry Foundation and SMLXL Projects in creating a beautiful home for the young people who have been on our waiting list for housing. We so appreciate not only the generosity of their money, time and skills, but also the enthusiasm in which they are undertaking this project.
Housing for vulnerable homeless young people is in extremely short supply. We are so excited this project has happened.”
Over the course of 2022, the derelict and vacant cottage was transformed into a modern, welcoming space two-bedroom home for a young mother and her baby. The young mother was able to move in and be supported by Burdekin through our Youth Services program, for young people aged 17-24 who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, couch surfing, or presently living in an unsafe environment.
The young mother has received life skills and parenting techniques, opportunities to engage in education and employment, and secure stable long-term housing.
The Property Industry Foundation connects Burdekin regularly with other organisations so we, in turn, could alleviate child and youth homelessness. One such organisation was SMLXL Projects, a leading fit-out, refurbishment and construction business based in Sydney, whose staff threw their weight behind renovating the property.
Bridge Housing provides long-term accommodation for people on low to moderate incomes through their property portfolio across Sydney. For the Haven Project, Bridge Housing was the community housing provider, managing the property on behalf of the “owner” (the Land and Housing Commission). The young people who live in the property enter into a lease with Bridge Housing.
Burdekin is the youth services provider, responsible for the case management of each young person living in the house.
Thank you so much to our supporters – we are so proud of the final result and if this inspires you to become involved and a partner of Burdekin’s please reach out by email to partnerships@burdekin.org.au – we would love to hear from you!
Thanks also to:
Further thanks must also be extended to: Urbis, Scope, Coco Republic – which supplied furniture and linen for the bedrooms plus lounge and dining furniture and decorations, Avid – which donated furniture and other items for the nursery, including a change table and cot.
You can view more about the project over on the Property Industry Foundation website.
