For Kooncha Brown and Chantell Martin, securing a consistent place to live has consistently been an uphill struggle.
Facing hatred and prejudice due to their gender identity, these transgender women have had difficulty securing housing within the private rental market.
"Property owners refuse to lease to us," Ms Brown said to the ABC.
A lot of us wind up in public housing, and some resort to sleeping on sofas or become homeless.
Even after securing housing, it frequently seems insecure due to stigma and discrimination from nearby residents.
“Being shouted at, being called names, stuff left in the mailbox,” Ms Martin said.
Many transgender individuals have experienced harm at rental properties they owned.
Ms Martin stated that the animosity from neighbors was so intense at one point that she became terrified and chose to sleep outdoors instead.
"it was safer for me to avoid being confined within a property and instead stay outdoors, interacting with others who share similar experiences," she explained.
Fourteen years back, Ms. Brown and Ms. Martin established a housing cooperative along with other transgender women.
A housing cooperative is a legal organization that manages cost-effective and safe accommodation for its members.
However, the organisation named All Nations had previously failed to secure any premises — but this has changed now.
'Life-changing' homes secured
All Nations took over ownership of seven terraced houses that were formerly held by the City of Sydney Council.
The council offloaded the properties to the community housing organization Common Equity NSW for approximately $2.4 million, which is around 30 percent of the standard market price.
The acquisition and forthcoming renovation of these vacant properties, which have remained unoccupied for many years, will be financed through funding from both the federal and state governments.
Nick Sabel, CEO of Common Equity NSW, stated that this initiative is considered to be Australia’s inaugural housing cooperative designed specifically for transgender women.
"As long as they require or desire, it offers them permanent accommodation," stated Mr Sabel.
He mentioned it will transform his life.
The NSW Housing Minister, Rose Jackson, stated that refurbishing current buildings was faster compared to constructing entirely new ones.
"Quick fixes for the housing crisis are what we're seeking," stated Ms Jackson.
The outcome is a secure haven for some of the most susceptible individuals within the community.
The ABC has consented to keep the precise locations of the properties undisclosed due to safety worries.
Ms Martin said it was vital the group secured housing in the inner city, where most services for trans people were located.
"Leaving this place would mean moving away from our support systems, such as our healthcare facilities, the physicians we visit, and our community groups," she stated.
Predominantly, this region is home to the transgender community.
This initiative aims to safeguard the essence of the neighborhood, as gentrification continues to make living unaffordable for individuals from various gender identities and orientations.
Independent MP from Sydney, Alex Greenwich, highlighted the importance of keeping housing costs manageable within the region.
"What we don't want is Darlinghurst or the City of Sydney to become an area where only the rich can afford to live," Mr Greenwich said.
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