Villa World nears completion of homeless youth care facility, puts call out for donations

The Gold Coast is a step closer to doubling the number of crisis care beds it provides for homeless young people, as construction of the Gold Coast Project for Homeless Youth’s Bill Hoyer House nears completion.Mayor Tom Tate toured the facility on Tuesday May 17, which is under construction by local developer Villa World and includes seven bedrooms, four bathrooms, large living spaces, an outdoor entertaining area and a separate youth workers’ quarters and office.It will provide care for up to 1,000 homeless young people over the next decade. The facility is on City of Gold Coast land, leased to the GCPHY.“Seeing this project take shape and the support it has received from local businesses underscores the amazing community spirit we have here in our city,” Mayor Tom Tate said.“As Mayor, I never want to see anyone left behind so I applaud the commitment to see this project through as it will assist those youth who need our support.’’Villa World General Manager – Communities and Business Growth, Carl Bruhn said the swift construction progress was a result of generous and hard-working local subcontractors and suppliers.“Many of these are small business owners and their staff have donated their time, skills and materials for free or at cost price,” he said.“The cost of building this facility sits at about $550,000 and through various streams of funding that will be reduced significantly.“But we still need donations to complete the build, carry out fit-out of the facility and of course finance its ongoing operation.”GCPHY president Andrew Antonopoulos said the organisation’s ultimate goal was to break the cycle of youth homelessness on the Gold Coast.“Ideally, we want to introduce life skills and encourage each person who comes through the door to become active members of the community,” he said.“With hundreds of young people experiencing homelessness in this city each night, the opening of Bill Hoyer House will help some of them off the streets and into good care.“With the support of the local community, Government and Villa World, Bill Hoyer House will have a serious impact in breaking the cycle of homelessness.”Partially funded by the Queensland Government, GCPHY has partnered with Villa World for a second time to make this project financially feasible, having previously completed Jessica Dunne Lodge.The GCPHY has been established for more than 30 years and is the Gold Coast’s leading service for youth homelessness. The organisation operates one other crisis care facility in the city called Lawson House.Donations are still required to finance building costs as well as fit-out and ongoing operational costs.The Gold Coast Project for Homeless Youth is hosting a fundraising cocktail function at Little Truffle in Mermaid Beach on Monday, May 30. Tickets are $75, limited to 50 people, and are available at billhoyerhouse.com.au.For more information or to donate to the cause visit billhoyerhouse.com.au.