Coast Shelter, a Central Coast based not-for-profit providing accommodation and support programs for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, will soon deliver another safe dwelling with the support of a $70,000 grant through Lendlease’s FutureSteps program.  

The grant will be used to convert a garage area of an existing family violence refuge into a unit that will provide short-term accommodation to women experiencing homelessness resulting from family violence.  

There is currently an acute national shortage of suitable accommodation to assist women and children escaping domestic violence, often meaning they are forced to stay longer in a refuge or consider unsafe alternatives.  

Coast Shelter has appointed a builder and preliminary works are underway on the conversion project, with the project set for completion later this year. 

To further support Coast Shelter’s work, Lendlease’s Erina Fair team will, for the second time, participate in the Coast Shelter Sleepout – one of the organisations largest fundraising efforts. The Sleepout aims to increase awareness in the business community of the issues surrounding domestic and family violence and homelessness on the Central Coast. To date the team from Erina Fair have raised over $16,000. 

Executives, community leaders, business owners and their staff are encouraged to sleepout for one night to gain a small insight into what it’s like to experience homelessness, while raising funds for the organisation. So far this year $41,000 has been raised by participants in the Sleepout.  

“Coast Shelter is delighted and thankful to receive such generous financial support from Lendlease to help expand our capacity to provide women and children facing or escaping homelessness due to domestic and family violence with a safe place to call home. Our partnership will enable Coast Shelter to provide safe, short-term accommodation and personal support services around the clock for an additional 10 women every year on the Central Coast, said Michael Starr, Chief Executive Officer, of Coast Shelter.  

“It’s a great encouragement for Coast Shelter to know that Lendlease is committed and determined to help end homelessness and domestic, family violence on the NSW Central Coast,” Starr said.  

Meanwhile, Stephen Ross, Centre Manager, Erina Fair Shopping Centre of Lendlease said they were grateful for the opportunity to support Coast Shelter’s work.

“Supporting meaningful projects such as these are the very reason Lendlease launched our shared value initiative, FutureSteps. Too many Australians are affected by domestic and family violence, and being able to provide a safe place to call home is so important,” Ross said.  

“We are grateful to be able to support Coast Shelter’s valuable work in the community, both with the Sleepout and the grant in support of increasing accommodation at their family violence refuge, and we look forward to continuing this relationship well into the future,” Ross said.