GOOD WORK: Turning savings into hope for women facing homelessness.
After witnessing the realities of homelessness firsthand, a Tasmanian couple has invested their savings in creating affordable, secure accommodation for women rebuilding their lives.
When a woman seeking refuge from an abusive relationship arrived at their Airbnb, Richard and Jan Gould offered her a place to stay. But what they witnessed changed the way they thought about homelessness.
For the couple, it was a confronting glimpse into the experiences of people facing homelessness — and the beginning of a much bigger commitment.
“We just realised that this is a problem,” the couple agreed.
Richard and Jan had sold their business in Sydney and planned to enjoy retirement in Tasmania. Instead, they found themselves investing their savings — and their superannuation — in a large former university accommodation facility, transforming it into affordable housing for women doing it tough.
Today, the property which they have named Blue Sky House offers 10 furnished rooms from $297 a week, including electricity, heating and internet. Residents have access to kitchen facilities and, importantly, a safe place to land. They can bring their pets, too.
“Many have come after living in their cars or paying hundreds of dollars a week for motel rooms. Others have faced rental insecurity or domestic abuse,” Richard says.
“This isn’t crisis accommodation. It’s an opportunity for women to regain their footing, surrounded by others who understand what it means to start again.”
The accommodation is designed to give women the security and breathing space they need to work out their next steps, whether that means staying longer term or moving into independent housing.
Some women stay for months; others for a year or longer. One of the couple’s first residents is now moving into a home of her own.
For the couple, these outcomes are what make the work worthwhile.
There have been lessons along the way. Opening the doors without a careful screening process created challenges, and the couple now interview prospective residents to ensure the house remains safe and harmonious.
They acknowledge that the undertaking is demanding and say anyone considering a similar project needs to understand the property, its requirements and the needs of the people who will live there.
But Richard says the personal rewards outweigh the challenges.
They know the work is substantial and the financial returns are modest. However, Richard says he and his wife aren’t looking to get rich. They want to earn enough to live comfortably while putting their resources towards something meaningful.
Richard’s philosophy is straightforward.
“Everybody deserves a little bit of blue sky.”
For women rebuilding their lives, that might begin with something as simple as a room, a sense of safety and the freedom to decide what comes next.
