Building Hope in the Heart of Ashfield: Habitat Australia Delivers Two Homes in Australia’s Largest Meanwhile Use Project
At Habitat for Humanity Australia, we believe that everyone deserves a safe place to call home – a place to rest, rebuild, and regain hope. That belief came to life in Ashfield, where our teams recently helped deliver two homes as part of the project – now the largest “Meanwhile Use” housing initiative in the Southern Hemisphere.
Through our Habitat Women and Brush with Kindness programs, we were proud to roll up our sleeves and contribute to this transformative project. Together, we refurbished and repaired two homes that will soon welcome transgender individuals seeking safety and support – marking a first-of-its-kind milestone in NSW.
Compasion meets Collaboration
These homes are part of a groundbreaking collaboration, generously enabled by TOGA Group as the building owner, and operated in partnership with Women’s Community Shelters (WCS) and Jewish House (JH). The project delivers urgently needed crisis accommodation, offering:
- 100 beds for women, children, and families escaping domestic and family violence (managed by WCS)
- 50 beds for men in need of immediate refuge (managed by JH)
- Dedicated homes for transgender individuals
As housing becomes increasingly difficult to access, many of those seeking help have never needed services before – they work, contribute to their communities, and, like everyone, deserve safety and shelter. This is a meaningful opportunity to give these individuals and families a fresh start – and a powerful example of what can be achieved when compassion and collaboration are the heart of a shared goal.
This Meanwhile Use project transforms the Ashfield site into a vibrant community hub where women, children, men, and transgender people will have not just a roof over their heads, but also wraparound support: case management, counselling, and life skills programs that help people rebuild their lives with strength and independence.
This is significant not only for its holistic approach to housing, but also for its innovative service model – providing 36,500 safe nights of shelter, the equivalent of housing 100 people every night for a full year.
Building Homes, Communities, and Hope
This project is proof that with purpose and partnership, we can turn empty spaces into thriving places of hope. Thank you to the Habitat Women team, whose incredible repair skills took the space from run-down to renewed, to our tirelessly dedicated volunteers for bringing the house to life, and to our corporate partners whose unwavering support through pro bono generosity or donated materials continues to drive the mission forward. 
If you’re a developer wth vacant space or a corporate partner looking to make a meaningful impact, your support can help us transform unused properties into homes for those in your communities who need it most.
Learn more about our Meanwhile Use Program and discover how you can get involved: habitat.org.au/meanwhile-use-housing-makes-change or connect with us directly at [email protected].
Together, we can build a future where everyone has a safe place to call home
