Orly House opens to shelter Jewish youth in crisis

A culturally responsive therapeutic home for Jewish young people facing homelessness has officially opened in Melbourne, with its first resident already living in and more referrals than there are rooms to fill.

Orly House, a partnership between Pathways Melbourne and the Lighthouse Foundation, opened on Tuesday to provide a safe home for young people aged 16 to 25 who cannot safely live with their parents.

The home offers therapeutic care while maintaining connection to Jewish culture, identity and community, including a kosher household and access to Jewish spiritual support.

Pathways Melbourne director of programs Dassi Erlich, a longstanding advocate for survivors and vulnerable young people, said demand was already outstripping capacity.

“We know that we already have more referrals than there are rooms here, and we will need a second house,” she said.

Pathways Melbourne identified that youth homelessness had been overlooked within Melbourne’s Jewish community.

Data revealed that in Victoria, at least 37 Jewish young people aged 12 to 24 are estimated to be homeless or marginally housed each year.

Pathways Melbourne founder and CEO Leah Boulton said the opening marked the end of years of work.

“After years of hard work, Orly House is finally open. For too long, young Jewish people facing homelessness or abuse, who cannot safely live at home, have had to choose between safety and community. Orly House has changed that,” she said.

Boulton told the AJN the project had been a community-wide effort. “It’s taken an absolute village to make this happen. We couldn’t have done it on our own, and we’re thankful to all the community.”

The home is built on the Lighthouse Foundation’s evidence-informed Model of Care, with a live-in mentor supporting residents.

Lighthouse Foundation CEO Brenda Boland said the program reflected a new approach. “Orly House brings together therapeutic care and cultural understanding to create a safe, supported environment where young people feel connected, valued and understood during some of the most challenging periods of their lives,” she said.

The home was made possible through support from community backers including Homes Victoria and Caulfield Grammar School.

Boulton said the work was far from finished. “This is just the beginning. We need to ensure that we can keep taking every young person that needs our support,” she said.