A New Year message from Kate Mills, CEO of the Property Industry Foundation
By Easter we will be opening 6×1-bedroom studios for homeless youth in Woolloongabba. Six months ago, I walked through these empty studios that were not fit for use and thought of all the empty bedrooms we have during a housing crisis. There is an astonishing 13 million bedrooms that are empty according to the latest Census. Behind the scenes at the Property Industry Foundation, we have been working on a Meanwhile Use Platform – a place where organisations with empty space can list them to be used for social use. We expect to launch this nationally later this year so stay tuned.
Take a look at the graph below. Young people aged between 19 and 24 experience the highest rates of homelessness of any age group. When formal support drops away at 18, too many young people are left to fend for themselves and end up on the street. See the sharp increase between the ages of 18 and 19 – and then think about six empty studios. We must do better by our young people.
At the Foundation, all our work is built through partnerships. We are delighted to start the year with three significant projects lined up for 2026. In NSW, we commence construction of Haven House South Dowling in Surrey Hills. Opportunities to create purpose-built youth accommodation in the centre of Sydney are rare, and I am looking forward to the young people who live there being able to enjoy all that central Sydney offers. In QLD, we will again partner with Lady Musgrave Trust and the QLD government to deliver 13 units for young mothers with children. And in Victoria, we are working with one of our longest-standing partners, Lighthouse Foundation, to refurbish a five-bedroom house for young parents with children. As Susan Barton, the founder of Lighthouse Foundation says, our partnership is “truly life-changing, giving young people a safe, loving home for the first time. Together we are transforming lives and building hope that lasts a lifetime.”
On top of all that, it’s our 30th anniversary this year. We will be celebrating, but also reflecting that 30 years on the outlook for youth housing is worse than ever. We believe the answer is in partnership. It is working together, in collaboration across industries and sectors to create lasting change.
We hope to partner with you more deeply this year. There are so many ways that you can help us make a difference.
