The Property Industry Foundation 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.
“In the midst of a housing crisis, more houses are needed for vulnerable homeless young people. The Property Industry Foundation, with the support of its very generous members, make houses available and turn them into homes,”
Graham Bargwanna, Head of Business & Stakeholder Development at Burdekin.
Property renovation in Balgowlah – ‘The Haven House Project’
The ‘Haven House’ Project in Balgowlah was an exciting property renovation that became a home for Burdekin’s young people, in this case, a young mother with her baby.
The Property Industry Foundation, SMLXL Projects and Bridge Housing teamed up with Burdekin in support of Burdekin’s Youth Housing Program to renovate the two-bedroom house, with Bridge Housing administering the lease arrangements with the young people.
See images of the unrenovated Haven House Project below:
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 of colleagues and friends, to put together living spaces for young people.
Graham Bargwanna, Head of Business & 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 a young mum who has 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 undertook 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 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 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, can 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 House Project, Bridge Housing was the community housing provider, managing the property on behalf of the “owner” (Homes NSW). 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 who will live 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 on the Property Industry Foundation website.
