Vacant Wesley Taylor gives new life
In a move set to benefit countless women at risk of homelessness, the new owners of the former Wesley Taylor Residential Aged Care Facility have temporarily handed over their empty site to the Northern Beaches Women’s Shelter (NBWS).
The offer will allow up to 90 eligible women access to fully-furnished, secure one-bedroom units at the Narrabeen site for up to 12 months, at minimal cost.
The initiative came after strong advocacy by shelter co-chair Beth Lawson who saw an opportunity for immediate use of the site, which had been vacant since Wesley Mission closed the facility last year. Pittwater MP Rory Amon brokered a meeting with owners Retirement by Moran – founded by Shane Moran of the former hospital and seniors living giant Moran Health Care – who plan to turn Wesley into ‘premium’ retirement living. Given the application process will take up to two years, the company jumped at the chance to help NBWS, said Moran managing director Sally Taylor. “I genuinely thought it would’ve been an absolute tragedy to have left that opportunity wasted,” Ms Taylor said.
“Being involved in the seniors living sector we are very aware of the housing crisis that affects so many Australians–but in particular, women aged over 50.”
The housing is characterised as ‘transitional,’ and NBWS staff will be on site to help women identify permanent housing solutions.
Shelter chair Rosy Sullivan said the NBWS was ‘so lucky’ to have been offered the opportunity, given the facility was already set up as one- bedroom units and studios – and just needed ‘a lot of elbow grease’ to become liveable. “This is just the most amazing opportunity for women to have somewhere for a period of time to get their lives back on track and move back into their community – to stay in the area where they live and where their networks and supports are.”
Narrabeen House, as it has been named, has multiple communal areas which will allow NBWS to run the courses and support services they are so well known for on the Beaches. “It’s not just a roof,” Ms Sullivan said. “It’s the support services that we offer, which is tailored to each woman. They’re often escaping domestic violence or facing financial hardship, or experiencing any type of life crisis as to why they’ve ended up homeless. It’s actually that critical bridge to stability. “It’s a stepping stone from crisis through to finding solutions for breaking that cycle of homelessness.”
