Spotlight on: Haymarket Foundation Crisis and Temporary Accommodation Project
Delivering specialist crisis accommodation for women impacted by domestic and family violence in inner‑city Sydney
The Haymarket Foundation Crisis and Temporary Accommodation Project will deliver urgently needed crisis accommodation for women impacted by domestic and family violence (DFV), as well as people experiencing chronic homelessness with complex support needs.
Supported by a $10 million Housing Australia Future Fund - Crisis and Transitional (HAFF CT) grant, the project is being delivered by Bridge Housing in partnership with the Haymarket Foundation, addressing a critical gap in inner‑Sydney’s crisis accommodation system.
The project involves the acquisition and repurposing of a former student accommodation building, enabling an immediate increase in housing supply in a high‑need area. The facility comprises 35 self‑contained dwellings, including 16 dedicated, secure-access crisis units for women experiencing DFV, funded directly through the HAFF CT grant. The remaining dwellings will provide general crisis accommodation, supporting individuals with complex needs.
The dedicated crisis units for women will prioritise those who are often unable to access mainstream crisis accommodation, particularly women who have experienced chronic homelessness and complex trauma related to domestic and family violence. Support will be delivered by Haymarket Foundation through a trauma‑informed, harm‑minimisation model, combining safe accommodation with wraparound services to support safety, stability and recovery.
Haymarket Foundation estimates the project will support up to 140 individuals each year. Over the 20‑year use period, it will accommodate more than 1,280 women, including a minimum of 64 women experiencing domestic and family violence within the first year of operation, typically for stays of up to 3 months.
All dwellings are designed as self‑contained studios, including kitchen facilities, private bathrooms and sleeping areas, with layouts that support dignity, autonomy and a sense of safety. Trauma‑informed design principles are embedded throughout the building, alongside shared facilities including communal laundry areas, service suites for case work and visiting clinicians, dedicated outdoor spaces on each floor, and wheelchair‑accessible units.
The site is well located in inner‑city Sydney, adjacent to major education, health and employment hubs, with strong access to public transport, green space, community services and employment opportunities, supporting residents’ connection to essential services and pathways beyond crisis.
The project is delivered through a partnership led by Bridge Housing, working closely with the Haymarket Foundation, government partners including Homes NSW and the City of Sydney, and Lendlease’s social impact FutureSteps program.
Haymarket Foundation, a highly regarded Specialist Homelessness Service with a long history of supporting vulnerable populations in inner‑Sydney, will provide all onsite management and support services. The organisation previously operated a dedicated crisis accommodation facility in Chippendale with shared dormitory style rooms but was forced to vacate due to structural issues, resulting in a significant reduction in crisis beds. This project enables Haymarket Foundation to reestablish and expand its crisis accommodation service, providing a total of 35 crisis beds in inner‑Sydney.
This project demonstrates how targeted investment through Housing Australia’s HAFF CT program can deliver safe, specialist, place based housing solutions for people whose needs are not well served by mainstream services.
