Key players in Victoria’s construction industry are making a difference to the lives of vulnerable young women by raising funds and completing the building and renovation of the first Australian safe home in

Melbourne’s south-east was officially opened by the Mayor, City of Stonnington, Cr Joe Gianfriddo and Lighthouse’s CEO and key stakeholders yesterday.

The home is designed to meet the recovery needs of young women escaping early and/or forced marriage for Melbourne youth homelessness charity, Lighthouse Foundation.

Young women fleeing forced marriage and young people needing a home, tailored care, and therapy, will be moving into the low-cost and pro bono work from the construction industry on the renovation of their new home early next week.

Speaking at the opening celebration about the Young Women’s Freedom Program, Manuela, Lighthouse’s Therapeutic Case Manager said, “The Young Women Freedom Program (YWFP) provides protection and safe spaces for the women to speak about their trauma and experiences so we can support them to heal.”.

“The program is a vital step towards ensuring these women know they have a right to choose their own paths and to foster a generation of empowered, educated, and confident women to live free from fear and live their full potential.”

TEN Women, the Property Industry Foundation and Hansen Yuncken, have recently completed the extension and refurbishing of a Lighthouse Foundation home for Lighthouse’s Young Women’s Freedom tailored care program in Melbourne’s south-east.

The project included extensive work to provide a large dining room for meal times and hosting community events, new bathrooms, and a dedicated wing for carers and clinicians.

TEN Women is a group of female leaders in construction who raised $640,000 at a fundraising event to support Lighthouse Foundation on this project in May 2022.

Property Industry Foundation (PIF) has contributed a further $200,000 to this renovation, Hansen Yuncken, who kindly led the build and TEN Women have demonstrated a true collaboration by pulling together their resources to provide materials and over $100,000 worth of pro bono support from consultants, contractors, sub-contractors and suppliers to make the renovations for this beautiful Lighthouse home possible.

Hansen Yuncken Executive Director, Louise Hansen, who was the former director of TEN Women at the time of the fundraising event and for most of the construction, highlighted that the purpose of TEN Women is to build connections through our industry.

“We realised a couple of years ago that we had a pretty powerful network that we wanted to leverage to do good things.”

“Partners and subcontractors have been encouraged to donate their time and/or supplies to the house so that the money can be put into the home itself, making sure it is as comfortable as it can be,” said Hansen.

“It’s certainly very satisfying to make a real difference to the lives of these young women who have already been through so much.”

The Property Industry Foundation has assisted with six homes for Lighthouse over the past 10 years.

“The Property Industry Foundation has partnered with Lighthouse Foundation on several projects since 2010,” said Lighthouse Foundation Victorian State Manager Priscilla Heathwood.

“For more than 25 years, we have been proudly supported by over 150 organisations in the property and construction industry who offer in-kind donations, pro bono services and fundraise to support projects like this one.”

According to Heathwood,  this contribution is vital in helping our charity partners like Lighthouse Foundation continue to support young people at risk of or experiencing homelessness to overcome their traumatic life experiences, build relationships and heal in a safe environment.

Lighthouse Foundation’s CEO, Brenda Boland, also expressed her gratitude to Lighthouse’s long-term partners, Provincial Home Living for supplying the beautiful furniture for our young people and Founder of T-House, Tina Nettlefold and the T-House team for making this house a home with the soft furnishings and homely touches for when the young people move in.

“Donations and partnered projects from business and the community allow Lighthouse Foundation to support more vulnerable young people in need”, said Boland at the opening of the home.

“The number of young people in Victoria facing homelessness is sadly growing with the current cost of living pressures and housing shortages.”

According to the CEO, with the support of businesses and industries in building and construction, we can provide vulnerable young people with a welcoming place where they can access the support they need to heal and live happy, safe, and healthy lives.

“We are incredibly grateful to TEN women, the Property Industry Foundation, Hansen Yuncken and the numerous contractors, sub-contractors and consultants, Provincial Home Living and T-House who have generously donated their money, time and resources to this vital project.”

Boland also thanked major Funders and Donors, the Commonwealth Government’s Stronger Communities Grant and Mercy Foundation who support the Young Women’s Freedom Program and Lighthouse’s mission to end youth homelessness.