Property Industry Foundation building homes for homeless teens

Tamara was 17 when her relationship with her foster family broke down and she was asked to leave. She moved in with a boyfriend, but the situation became violent and her only option was to spend months couch-surfing at friends’ houses.

“You feel really crappy about yourself. You don’t know where to go. I spent two weeks living in my car and I was going to a homeless shelter to get something to eat because I had no money,” she told Commercial Real Estate.

The house for at-risk and homeless teens, who are in situations like Tamara was in, is being built by Lendlease in Dundas. Photo: Brendan Read

Wesley Mission, who has provided Tamara with case workers since she was six months old and first went into foster care, then found Tamara a spot in the Take Charge of Your Life program.

Tamara has indeed been able to take charge of her life, studying a budgeting course so she can look after herself in independent living, and get back into the workforce.

She said if it wasn’t for the help of the program she might still be homeless.

The Uniting Church-operated Wesley Mission has expanded its program to help homeless youth, partnering with the Property Industry Foundation to build homes for young people transitioning out of foster care.

In Sydney two houses under construction will provide accommodation for 27 young people: a group of 16-to-18 year olds who will have “house parents” and youth workers; and an additional group of 18 to 19 years who will be living more independently but still have access to mentoring and training.

Rosemary Smithson, chief executive of the Property Industry Foundation, said the PIF House project was a tangible solution to youth homelessness.

“The aim is to help young residents transition to a life of independence and provide them with mentoring and life skills,” she said.

In August 2016 work started on the Dundas site with principal contractor Lendlease providing pro bono design, project management and construction services. The construction is valued at $800,000. The Property Industry Foundation would also provide $300,000 a year for five years to fund ‘house parents’ who would give vital support and mentoring to young residents, Ms Smithson said.

Another PIF House is under construction in Blacktown, managed by the Property Industry Foundation for the charity Marist180, with Frasers Property Australia providing pro bono design services, construction expertise and project management. The concrete slab for that project was laid in January, and the work is valued at $520,000.

In five years’ time the PIF program will have built 125 bedrooms for at-risk youth, with two projects planned in Victoria and two planned in Queensland.

While Tamara isn’t moving into a PIF house – Wesley Mission recently found her independent accommodation – she continues to benefit from the wider Take Charge of Your Life program.

Once young people turned 18 they were often left without support and were unprepared to properly look after themselves, said Gillian McIntyre, Wesley Mission’s manager of carer capacity and engagement.

“We noticed that agencies lose funding for kids in out-of-home care when they turn 18, so a lot of those kids were couch surfing and becoming homeless so we’re trying to fill that gap by getting those kids early.

“Trying to place kids that are 16 to 18 into foster care is nearly impossible, and this model will provide much support than your average youth refuge would,” she said.

Ms McIntyre said the long-term benefits of the program could be life-changing because as well as stable housing, the young people were given opportunities for education and skills’ training, the ability to keep in touch with loved ones, access to information about their rights and daily support.