Overwhelming support for youth homelessness facility

27 October 2026

A new youth homelessness facility in Beenleigh is opening on 30 October with 30 newly-completed apartments.

Anglicare Southern Queensland’s new purpose-built Youth Homelessness Accommodation facility will provide crisis accommodation for young people aged 16 to 25 who are experiencing, or at significant risk of, homelessness.

The apartments have been transformed into ready-to-live homes with the help of 90 corporate volunteers from businesses and organisations across south-east Queensland, who came together last week to put the finishing touches on the facility.

The volunteers assembled and arranged household items, stocked kitchens, prepared bedrooms and cleaned living spaces.

Anglicare Southern Queensland Youth Homelessness Accommodation Project Coordinator Bella Dredge said the support of volunteers had helped turn a newly completed building into a welcoming place to live.

'We got the keys to the building a week ago and gave ourselves a week to get 30 apartments completely set up and ready for young people, so having 90 corporate volunteers come in and help us has been incredible,' Ms Dredge says.

'Everything is brand new. They’ll have a new bed, a new TV, new plates and crockery and a safe, clean space that is theirs.

'We want the young people who come here to see the type of home they deserve and should expect for their future.

'When they eventually move on to private rentals or other housing, we hope they carry that same expectation with them.'

Ms Dredge says some of the young people who come to Anglicare have been living in really unsafe environments, or may not have many things of their own.

'They’ll be able to walk in here and have their own safe space and know that everything in it is there for them.'

Among the volunteers who took part was MinterEllison partner Julie Whitehead, whose firm has supported Anglicare’s project with pro bono legal expertise in building and construction.

Ms Whitehead says homelessness has long been a focus of MinterEllison’s community investment program.

'Homelessness can affect anyone, at any time and at any age, and that’s why it has been one of the core areas of focus for us,' Ms Whitehead says.

'We were able to bring our legal expertise in building and construction to this project, while Anglicare brings the expertise to deliver the services young people need.

'What makes this project particularly exciting is that we can see something tangible here today. We can see the building and the difference it is going to make for young people and hopefully play a part in helping break the cycle of homelessness.'

Ms Dredge says residents will have their own accommodation and access to around-the-clock support, helping them build the skills and stability needed to move towards independent living.

She says the support from businesses and the wider community has been overwhelming, including businesses donating food and other items.