MIDLAND’s Indigo Junction has received more than $5.3 million to advance its facilities for youth and transitional crisis housing, as well as its Koolkuna women’s shelter.

The grant, provided through Lotterywest, will allow Indigo Junction to progress with two major upgrade projects for their facilities.

The Indigo Junction youth crisis and transitional housing build project has received $5m and aims to fully refurbish the current six-bed youth house by connecting the existing building with a new landmark building to be constructed next door.

The new building is designed to provide 30 brand new beds to supply urgent need care and create safe and supported housing options for young people experiencing crisis.

An Indigo Junction spokesperson said the existing building was constructed in the 1970s and was no longer fit-for-purpose.

In 2023 the youth service accommodated and intensively supported 29 young people.

Indigo Junction receives 30 to 50 ‘unassisted’ referrals or calls from young people in crisis per month, resulting in almost 500 calls last year alone.

“These are calls from young people in need that the service does not have the capacity to house or support,” the spokesperson said.

The project’s vision is to provide a “warm and welcoming youth house” so young people could have a safe place to stay while developing independent living skills.

The second project benefiting from the grant was the Koolkuna women’s refuge fit-out following the refurbishment project.

Koolkuna is a family and domestic violence service provider which has provided support since 1995, but merged with Indigo Junction in 2022.

About $357,000 of the total grant money was allocated for the Koolkuna project to replace furniture and appliances; build a new nature-scape playground for children; landscape and update all outdoor spaces; and provide new office furniture and ICT equipment for Koolkuna’s family and domestic violence workers.

This upgrade to Koolkuna also coincided with a full refurbishment of the women’s refuge which would be funded through about $554,000 provided by the community housing grants program, formerly known as SHERP.

The project’s goal was to create “a safe place for women and children to heal and receive the time and support they need to plan a new start and a life free from violence”.

Homeless minister John Carey said the state government was proud to support Indigo Junction in creating welcoming and culturally appropriate spaces for young people experiencing homelessness and women and children escaping family domestic violence.

“For more than 40 years Indigo Junction has created meaningful impact by assisting the most vulnerable members of our community,” he said.

Prevention of family and domestic violence minister Sabine Winton said the grant would ensure victim-survivors had access to a modern and comfortable safe space.

“There is never any excuse for violence. Every woman and child fleeing family and domestic violence has the right to feel safe in a supportive environment.”