Lorcan McCarthy, Steven Torta, Marc Vipond, Scott Ezzy and David Wood, of refurbishment company SHAPE Australia, in training to raise money for homeless youth. Photo: David Clark
Almost $200,000 has already been raised in a fundraising drive to build homes for homeless young people as part of an initiative driven by the property and construction industry.
With COVID-19 putting a stop to more traditional fundraising efforts, the Property Industry Foundation (PIF) has launched a 30-day fitness challenge and is inviting builders, tradies, designers, architects and real estate agents to take part before August 18, raising money to help the 44,000 people under the age of 24 who do not have a safe and secure place to sleep.
Queensland property and building industry specialists, like the team from SHAPE, are taking part in the fundraise. Photo: David Clark
“We’ve made 95 bedrooms in the past five years in houses of different sizes,” PIF chief executive Kate Mills said.
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“Last year that accommodation offered a second chance to 315 young Australians.”
PIF takes the pressure off frontline charities by fundraising on their behalf and partnering with businesses that make homes for a living.
For every dollar raised, participating members of the property and construction industry pledge in-kind support, through skills, labour and goods, to build everything from crisis accommodation, to more medium-term accommodation and transitional housing.
Property Industry Foundation members give their time to build homeless youth housing.
The Sydney-based charity was just about to start building in Queensland when COVID-19 hit.
“We had 12 bedrooms in the pipeline for the Brisbane Youth Services,” she said.
“One five-bedroom house and six individual units for that transitional age of 17, 18 and 19 who need independent living.”
Among the 130 core donors who work with PIF are Hutchinson Builders, Lendlease and the national fit-out and refurbishment company SHAPE Australia, which was preparing to work pro bono as project managers for the new Queensland development.
“I’m a new dad, I have a young boy who’s two years old,” SHAPE general manager for Queensland Josh Williams said. “It is heartbreaking to think that he could end up homeless.
“We’re a family-focused company so any chance to give back is important to us.”
Charities need to find more creative ways to raise money in a COVID-19 environment. Photo: David Clark
Six Queensland members of SHAPE have signed up for the 30-day challenge, which began on July 20 with participants able to register at any time between now and August 18.
“Me personally, I”m walking from Camp Hill into the city every day. The target for myself is to raise $5000,” Mr Williams said.
One of the most recent PIF projects has been the renovation of St Laurence House, which provides medium-term youth accommodation for 13-18 year olds in Sydney.
“It was critical really,” St Laurence House executive officer Nigel Parker said.
“To have an extra bedroom and new bathrooms, it’s like a completely different house.
“What they also did which is important, they also got a team of people to come in and replace all the furniture in the kids’ bedrooms. It’s beautiful and they also bought an outdoor setting and a new barbecue and some sports equipment.
Bedrooms like this can help give a young person a fresh start in life.
“I think it’s one of the most worthwhile things that you can do because for many small charities, they just don’t have the capacity to do renovations. For us it was about making the house feel more homelike.”
For more information on the Property Industry Foundation’s 30-day fitness challenge visit pif30.com.au
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