AUGUST 2020 GRANT RECIPIENTS
Coinciding with Homelessness Week in August 2020, Lendlease FutureSteps put the call out to not-for-profits providing solutions to housing stress and homelessness to apply for a grant. After a considered review of the applications, the FutureSteps Committee awarded three grants to organisations that empower vulnerable people by increasing the availability of quality accommodation and support services in the community. The grant recipients were:
- yourtown (QLD): yourtown is a national not-for-profit that provides accommodation and support services to individuals and families experiencing disadvantage. FutureSteps provided a $100,000 contribution to assist yourtown in building a four-bed dwelling to house women and children escaping family violence in Queensland. The house will be constructed by yourtown’s social enterprise which provides training and employment to 8-10 young people experiencing disadvantage and supports them in gaining a certificate in construction.
- Women’s Community Shelter (NSW): Women’s Community Shelter is a NSW based not-for-profit with the purpose of increasing supply of accommodation for women and children experiencing homelessness as a result of family violence. In partnership with PAYCE Foundation, they pioneered the Pathways Home Program which is a ‘meanwhile use’ model that partners with landholders to identify vacant property for the purpose of housing vulnerable women and children. As part of our FutureSteps program, a $50,000 contribution to WCS was provided in order to fund a Program Manager who will be responsible for securing access to more properties.
- Women’s Property Initiatives (VIC): Women’s Property Initiatives is a not-for-profit, community housing provider assisting women and children at risk of homelessness by providing long term housing solutions and access to support. To increase the supply of accommodation for women and children escaping family violence, WPI plan to construct a five-bedroom house in Victoria. Lendlease’s FutureSteps have provided a $50,000 contribution to assist in the development of this project.