The pandemic has left many women struggling to keep a roof over their heads and these holidays will be extremely challenging.  

Will you make a donation this holiday season to help us provide vital housing as soon as possible for women and children at risk of homelessness?

We can't do it without you.

WPI provides homes for more than 230 women and children and will deliver 24 new homes in the next year. That’s 24 women and their families who will have a secure home to celebrate Christmas next year.  

Women like Judy, who when renting privately with her daughters, had to move five times in five years. Judy retired early from a job that she enjoyed due to a medical condition. Despite being a sole parent with a single income, she had always had a good job and didn’t ever expect to face a housing crisis.  

Renting month to month, repeatedly moving and changing schools left them all very anxious. As a single mother of three, Judy was often passed over in favour of two-parent families. At one time, when house hunting, she lodged 30 applications. None were successful. 

When Judy’s oldest daughters moved out, her youngest, Amanda, continued to live at home. She worked many hours a week to afford the basics most teenagers take for granted. Judy and Amanda moved into a WPI home three years ago. It was life-changing. 

 “I’d forgotten what it was like not to live in constant stress, not knowing where you’ll be in a year, or even a month’s time. We love our home. With affordable rent,  Amanda doesn’t have to work all the time to make ends meet. She just graduated with distinction and has been accepted into a very prestigious post-graduate program!” 

 

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Creating new beginnings for women

Women’s Property Initiatives creates new beginnings for women and children at risk of homelessness by providing permanent and affordable homes, access to support networks and ongoing advocacy.

We are a not-for-profit, community housing provider founded in 1996 to meet the housing needs of single women and single mothers and their children.  

Affordable, appropriate and secure housing is a basic human need and right. It is not being adequately provided by the public or private sectors. WPI seeks to provide permanent homes that change a woman’s future and help to break the inter-generational cycle of poverty. We can envisage a time when no Victorian woman is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

WPI believes in housing first. We know that without housing, access to support services, employment, education and productive participation in society are extremely difficult. That’s why we focus on getting women and women led families, into stable homes first, where they can address the other challenges in their lives

WPI Blog

  • Great progress on six new homes in Pakenham

    It’s still full steam ahead on site at our six home development in Pakenham. We are thrilled with the progress. Soon these will be homes for women and children at risk of homelessness. Our builder partner SJD Homes are doing a fantastic job. This development wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Victorian Property Fund, the Edward Wilson Trust and Cardinia Shire Council.

    Designed by Schored Projects and surrounded by parklands these beautiful homes with change the lives of six women led families.

    Tags: women's housing, community housing, Pakenham, affordable housing
    @dm1n_wP1, 17.12.2019 | Posted in 0 comment

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Testimonials

WPI tenants share their stories about how their lives have changed since having a place to call home

I’ve had the opportunity to improve my living conditions and have a better quality of life.

My youngest son has finished school and is now at university

It has given me a boost mixing with people. I don’t trust many people but I have been doing a little voluntary work.... Something I wouldn’t have done a few years ago. And I enjoy it so much.

I’m not getting any younger and to know you don’t have to move is peaceful and so less stressful. I love my house!

I have never been happier and so relaxed. Everyone at (WPI) treats you as an equal which is very important because yes, we might have had different journeys but at the end of the day we are all the same. You all speak to us NOT at us and trust me that makes a massive difference.

From what I know and seen of (WPI) they don’t judge people from what circumstances they have come from. They just want to give an opportunity to start a new fresh life and what a way to start that life!

My child was able to return to his previous school and friends and keep his pet dog.

I have made plans to start my own business...because now I can afford to spare some cash for it.

Long term affordable housing allows me to complete my studies to improve future employment prospects.

(WPI) provides an invaluable service with empathy; provided by women.

With safe, secure, stable and affordable housing, I have managed to turn my life around and now have the opportunity to live a normal life.

It is the most important thing in my life. Feeling safe, stable and secure is what keeps me going and allows me to live a normal life. Without it I wouldn’t cope and really don’t believe I could survive it again.

I would have needed up with mental health issues or my drug and alcohol abuse would have been beyond repair. I had given up the fight...(since becoming a tenant) I have never looked back and try so hard to forget where I was before (WPI).

We have great neighbours and they have become part of mine and the kid’s lives. We go on outings and enjoy each other’s company, they have become like family to us for we had no family before moving into (WPI housing).

I would have been homeless due to private rent being so high and not able to afford anything for my kids.

It is very important to me and my kids knowing we have long term housing and not having to move house to house every year.

(WPI) have been a God send to me and the kids and saved us from stress and feeling secure with the home they have given us...It was the best Christmas present we ever got after three years of stress we were going through, thank you.

If I wasn’t offered a (WPI) property I would have lost custody of my children.