Lighthouse Foundation and Pathways Melbourne are proud to announce a new partnership dedicated to supporting Jewish children and young people experiencing homelessness, trauma, or family breakdown.
This important collaboration will provide a therapeutic home, culturally responsive support services, and community-based care for vulnerable Jewish youth across Victoria. It will also empower carers within the Jewish community to care for children who cannot live with their birth families, ensuring they remain connected to their culture, and community during times of crisis.
Understanding Jewish youth homelessness in Melbourne
While youth homelessness is often hidden, it impacts every part of our society – including the Jewish community. According to the 2016 Census of the Jewish Population in Victoria, 266 Jewish individuals were identified as homeless or marginally housed across Australia. In Victoria alone, it’s estimated that 37 Jewish young people aged 12–24 are experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.
Religious and cultural tensions can sometimes lead to family conflict, alienation, and young people leaving home – experiences that Pathways Melbourne has witnessed firsthand. However, there is still very limited data on youth homelessness within Melbourne’s religious Jewish communities. This partnership seeks to change that by creating culturally informed support pathways tailored to the community’s unique needs.
About Lighthouse Foundation and Pathways Melbourne
For over three decades, Lighthouse Foundation has provided children and young people experiencing homelessness with the care they need to heal, grow and thrive. At the heart of our approach is the Lighthouse Model of Care, a trauma-informed, therapeutic framework that builds long-term, supportive relationships for young people in safe home environments.
Pathways Melbourne has long supported religious Jewish adults exploring life beyond traditional norms. In 2025, Pathways is extending its mission to include young people and families, offering compassionate, culturally aware services for Jewish youth navigating trauma, disconnection, and housing instability.
“Our partnership with Lighthouse Foundation is about much more than offering shelter; it’s about creating a nurturing and compassionate environment where Jewish youth can rebuild their lives and reconnect with their community. I know my journey through childhood would have been so much more positive had this partnership existed then.” – Dassi Erlich, Youth & Family Programs Manager at Pathways Melbourne
Introducing Orly House: A safe home for Jewish youth
The first initiative under this new partnership is the development of Orly House – a dedicated therapeutic home for Jewish children and young people. Once funded, Orly House will provide a culturally informed, trauma-responsive environment where young people can heal while staying connected to their heritage and traditions.
Following this, the program will expand to include carer support within the Jewish community, giving families access to Lighthouse’s training, advocacy and therapeutic care, in line with existing foster and kinship care training and support. This crucial support will help keep children in safe, loving homes while maintaining cultural and religious sensitivities.
“At Lighthouse, we believe every young person deserves a safe and loving home. “By partnering with Pathways Melbourne, we can offer vulnerable Jewish youth the care and support they need—ensuring cultural sensitivity and understanding every step of the way. This partnership is a powerful opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of young people in our community, and I am truly honoured to be part of it.” – Susan Barton AM, Founder and Director of Lighthouse Foundation
Your support can help change lives
This vital initiative is entirely philanthropically funded and comes at a time when more young people are experiencing homelessness due to family violence, mental health challenges, and identity-related conflict.
Your support will help us provide:
- Safe, culturally appropriate homes for vulnerable Jewish youth.
- Trauma and identity informed therapeutic care.
- Support and training for Jewish carers and foster families.
- A future where no Jewish child feels alone, unsafe, or unwelcome.
Philanthropic support is essential. Our appeal has been proudly launched with seed funding from community philanthropic family foundations, and we now invite others to help us reach our targets.
For fundraising and philanthropic enquiries, please contact: Michelle Michie – michellem@lighthousefoundation.org.au
