A ONE-BEDROOM flat that has provided years of new beginnings for struggling local young people is ready for its next occupant after a whirlwind makeover.
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Veritas House bought the property in October 2014 and has since leased it at below market rent to homeless young people to give them a stepping stone to independence.
In the flat, they learn how to manage a budget, look after a home and cook for themselves with the help of Veritas case workers, as well as building a rental history that will allow them to get into the private market.
But the flat has always needed a significant makeover - and it finally became possible last year when Veritas received a $50,000 grant from the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation.
The chair of the foundation, Phil Neat, was at the flat on Monday morning to see the fruits of that grant - and he was an impressed man.
"This is one of those quiet achievement projects that we take a great delight in seeing in the community," he said.
Over four weeks, the flat was gutted internally and rebuilt, getting a new kitchen, bathroom, carpet and air-conditioning unit.
A former resident of the flat got to have a look in the afternoon and was blown away by what had been achieved during the makeover.
"It's amazing," she said. "It's going to help another person the way it helped me."
She came to the flat two-and-a-half years ago from the local refuge.
"It was the start of my life, really," she said of her time in the accommodation. "It was me getting out into the world and starting to do things on my own. It was exciting and nerve-wracking, but a happy time."
She has since entered employment and hopes to work in early childhood education.
"There's nothing in there that reminds me of what it used to be like. It's like a whole new flat," she said.
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Mr Neat said the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation was set up in 2003 on the 100th anniversary of the building society.
The foundation gives out $1.5 million a year to organisations and projects within the Newcastle Permanent footprint - which, Mr Neat said, means regional NSW.
He had plenty of praise for Veritas House, a not-for-profit organisation and registered charity that provides services to children, young people and families in the Central West.
"Veritas is one of the hardest working organisations with which we have had an association and does a tremendous amount of good with youth in our community," he said.
"Veritas has been able to deliver this project in an efficient and effective manner, well before it was due to be delivered."
