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PIF House Werribee (The West Refuge)

Victoria

Number of bedrooms
10
Building Partner
The Hacer Group
Charity Partner
Melbourne City Mission
Melbourne city mission- kate mills

The Property Industry Foundation brought together a sensational group of consultants and builders to deliver pro bono services to build a 10-bedroom accommodation centre for Melbourne City Mission (MCM) in Werribee, in western Melbourne.

The West Refuge project was primarily funded by a $3.5 million investment from the Victorian Government, however, for two years, the Hacer Group have led a team of high-calibre consultants to deliver the West Refuge for the Melbourne City Mission through a combination of pro-bono donations and services valued over $465,000.

Melbourne City Mission’s The West Refuge, is a new youth homeless shelter in Werribee providing emergency and crisis accommodation for individuals and families across the West.

The West Refuge links with MCM’s suite of youth homelessness programs including its service hub in South Road Braybrook, and other youth supports across Melbourne’s west. The West Refuge delivers positive outcomes for young people by:

  • providing emergency and crisis accommodation and 24-hour staffing and support for up to ten young people;
  • two family units to assist young parents and their children;
  • a purpose-built children’s play area; and
  • capacity to provide young people with education and independent living skill programs on site.

Key Suppliers

On every PIF House the support we get from the industry is incredible. The below is not a full list, but notes some key suppliers and supporters:

  • Turner & Townsend Thinc
  • Group GSA
  • Tract Consultants
  • PLP Building Surveyors
  • Morris Goding Access Consulting
  • Rider Levett Bucknall
  • Nationwide
  • Irwin
  • WSP
  • Maddocks

“The design, layout and space of our youth refuges is really important for how we do our work. The West Refuge is not just a bed for someone to stay in. It’s the first of many stages where we provide wrap-around support aimed at stabilising and addressing the immediate needs, be that financial, support around mental health therapeutic supports that assist young people to start to heal and begin the process of moving forward from what’s happened in the past,”

Wayne Merritt, General Manager, Homelessness, Justice & Family Services – Melbourne City Mission