Boral Supporting Young People in Need
A safe and temporary home for young people in need is being established in Sydney’s western suburbs with the assistance of Boral.
A safe and temporary home for young people in need is being established in Sydney’s western suburbs with the assistance of Boral.
A six-bedroom house in Blacktown will be home to a live-in carer and five young people who are transitioning from foster care to independent living. The young people, aged between about 17 and 19, will learn life skills such as cooking, home care, cleanliness and budgeting.
To be managed by not-for-profit youth care organisation Marist180, the house is an initiative of the Property Industry Foundation that sought the assistance of companies in the construction industry including builders Frasers Property Group who used Boral roof tiles as well as Boral concrete for the slab, driveway and paths.
The Property Industry Foundation was formed by industry leaders in 1996 in order to assist charitable organisations that provide services to at-risk and homeless young people and works with Marist180 who offers services to help young people who are homeless, or who are at risk of homelessness or are living away from their families. It also focuses on addressing the issues young people face and help them develop skills for independent living.
Property Industry Foundation Chief Executive Officer Rosemary Smithson says Marist180 will select the young people to live in the house based on their readiness to change their lives, seek employment and strive for independent living so they will not be dependent on another organisation for support when they leave the house.
After the existing house was demolished, the first sod was turned for PIF house development in Blacktown in December 2016 followed by the slab pour in January, 2017. Ms Smithson says the house – worth $520,000 – is expected to be finished in the second half of 2017. She says Marist180 will provide the Property Industry Foundation with feedback bi-monthly on the status of the house and its residents.
The Property Industry Foundation is building more PIF Houses to accommodate and mentor homeless young people across New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. In 2017 it is constructing three homes in Sydney that will provide 27 young people and with homes in the pipeline for Melbourne and Brisbane.
This is yet another example of Boral helping to Build something great™.