Manly Women’s Shelter was identified as a property that required immediate assistance with their kitchen and living areas.

Opened due to community need in 2010, this shelter consists of three ex-Military homes where they house up to thirteen women in a short term emergency housing situation.

The women come into the shelter either from the Manly Community Centre, through referrals from the Domestic Violence hotline, social workers and case workers, and in the first instance are allowed to stay for up to 12 weeks.

As well as a safe and non threatening place to stay, they receive assistance in getting their appropriate social entitlements organised, clothes, linen, food and counselling to help get them back on their feet.

When we discovered the MWS, the kitchens were in ill repair. Small and cramped, they were dilapidated and currently didn't offer the women a comfortable ‘heart of the home’ when they come to stay in the shelter.

We can't imagine what it is like to be leaving everything familiar to you and not being comfortable to have a cup of tea, so we were thrilled to be able to help once more with our friends at Freedom Kitchens.

Jules Sebastian said, "We want to give these women a sense that they are coming home. The sense that someone cares for them, someone values them, that can do something with this life and turn it around."

Together with Freedom Kitchens have created two beautiful new hearts in these homes and we couldn't thank them enough.

You can see clearly the results of these lovely renovations here.