House for Young People in Need
The Blue Mountains has long been known for its breathtaking scenery, but for young people without stable housing, the region can present a very different reality. In a meaningful step to change that, the Property Industry Foundation has partnered with Platform Youth Services to deliver a comprehensive refurbishment of ‘The Blue House’ — a transitional accommodation property in Valley Heights that provides a vital lifeline for young people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
A Home That Does More Than Shelter
The Blue House is one of four residential properties owned by Platform Youth Services, an organisation with more than four decades of experience supporting young people across Western Sydney, the Nepean, Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury regions. Founded in 1979, Platform Youth Services operates 10 sites and 13 programs, managing over 80+ crisis and transitional beds (across 50 properties) and serving young people aged 12 to 25 who are navigating some of the most difficult circumstances of their lives.
As a three-bedroom medium-term accommodation home, The Blue House plays a central role in the Platform Youth Services Blue Mountains catchment, offering not just a roof overhead, but a stable environment in which young residents can begin to rebuild their lives. Yet, like any well-used property, the home had reached a point where significant refurbishment was needed — not only to maintain safety and liveability, but to expand its capacity to help even more young people.
“We’re so grateful for our partnership with Property Industry Foundation. Their support has allowed us to improve the space, add another bedroom, and the full renovation of the bathroom. This will help us support more young people in need as well as helping to create a more modern and welcoming home, ” said Emma Jordan, Manager – Programs, Platform Youth Services.
Industry Coming Together for Good
The Property Industry Foundation is a purpose-driven organisation that channels the collective resources, expertise and generosity of the property and construction industry toward ending youth homelessness. For The Blue House, the Foundation has played a pivotal role — contributing direct funding and mobilising its extensive network of industry partners to deliver low-cost and pro bono materials, products and services that would otherwise be well beyond the reach of a community organisation.
Special thanks go to Versatile Group for spearheading the project, bringing leadership and on-the-ground coordination that made the collaboration possible.
“This project reflects what matters to us as a group, combining construction expertise and safety leadership to deliver environments that are not only fit for purpose, but genuinely supportive of the people who rely on them. It’s also a reflection of Versatile Group’s ongoing commitment to the Property Industry Foundation and the important work they do in supporting young people facing homelessness.”
Simon Gobbo, Head of Construction, Versatile Group.
What the Refurbishment Delivered
The scope of works at The Blue House was both practical and transformative. The refurbishment addressed the property’s most pressing needs while also laying the groundwork for increased capacity:
- Minor structural works to create an additional bedroom, meaning The Blue House can now support more young residents at any one time
- Full bathroom renovation, bringing the facilities up to a modern, functional standard
Together, these works represent far more than maintenance — they represent a commitment to the young people who call this home, even if only temporarily.
The Power of Industry Partnership
What makes this project particularly compelling is the model through which it was delivered. By bringing together funding, donated materials and pro bono professional services, the Property Industry Foundation has demonstrated how industry partnerships can multiply impact far beyond what any single organisation could achieve alone.
For Platform Youth Services, this kind of support is invaluable. Running 60 transitional properties across multiple regions requires enormous resources, and the ability to undertake significant capital works through in-kind industry support frees up critical funds to be directed where they’re needed most — into the programs, staff and services that help young people make lasting change in their lives.
A Place Worth Coming Home To
The Property Industry Foundation is proud to stand alongside Platform Youth Services in this work — and deeply grateful to every partner, contractor and donor who contributed their time, skills and resources to make The Blue House the home it deserves to be.
Youth homelessness is rarely just about the absence of a roof. It is bound up with trauma, disadvantage, fractured family relationships and a loss of belonging. Creating a home environment that is safe, comfortable and dignified matters deeply to the young people who live there — it signals that they are valued, that their wellbeing matters, and that they deserve more than bare subsistence.
The refurbished Blue House is precisely that kind of place. With the additional bedroom and renovated bathroom, the home now offers an environment that supports not just physical safety, but emotional recovery and forward momentum.
