Northern Beaches Women's Shelter

What Northern Beaches Women's Shelter does

Northern Beaches Women's Shelter (NBWS) is a registered charity and not-for-profit organization established in 2010 in Manly, New South Wales, to provide crisis accommodation, transitional housing, low-cost accommodation, and outreach support to homeless and at-risk women on Sydney's Northern Beaches. The organization operates four physical facilities: the Manly Shelter (12 crisis beds), the Pittwater Shelter (8 crisis beds), Narrabeen House (90 independent studios and one-bedroom units for transitional and low-cost accommodation), and the Myer Transition House (a second transition property leased in late 2018 to ease capacity bottlenecks). Services are delivered through individual case management with 24/7 qualified professional staffing, an average resident stay of approximately 42 days, and reported successful community reintegration rates exceeding 90%.

NBWS's business model is donation-funded rather than revenue-generating: services are provided free of charge to clients, and the operating budget of approximately $800,000 AUD per annum is sourced from individual donations (including the HUGS monthly giving program), corporate and foundation grants (Fussell Family Foundation, Mary Alice Foundation, Perpetual, Westpac Community Fund, MYER Community Fund, Bendigo Bank, Adobe), special events (an annual Gala Dinner historically generating ~$130,000), bequests, and approximately 10% from Northern Beaches Council government funding. The organization completed the ASES Accreditation process in 2018 and transitioned to full operational independence from Women's Community Shelters in October 2024, after nine years of governance partnership. It is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and supported by trained community volunteers, with a small paid staff led by a full-time Shelter Manager and a part-time Fundraising and Communications Manager.

Name

Northern Beaches Women's Shelter

Legal name

Northern Beaches Women's Shelter

Website

https://nbws.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Northern Beaches Women's Shelter is a registered charity providing crisis, transitional, and low-cost accommodation plus outreach support to homeless and at-risk women across Sydney's Northern Beaches, operating four facilities with ~20 crisis beds and 90 transitional units.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Women's Homeless Shelter Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

Keywords

• Women's shelter services
• Crisis accommodation
• Transitional housing
• Domestic violence support
• Homelessness outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Manly, NSW

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Cash donations from individuals, including one-time and regular giving programs (HUGS - Help Us Give Safety monthly giving program). All donations over $2 are tax deductible. NBWS is a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) organization.
2. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Funding from major donors including Fussell Family Foundation, Mary Alice Foundation, Westpac Community Fund, Northern Beaches Council, and other corporate sponsors. Submissions made to government, corporations and foundations for operational costs and service improvements.
3. Government Funding: Receives approximately 10% of annual operating costs from Northern Beaches Council. Additional government grants for specific programs and initiatives.
4. Special Events Fundraising: Annual Gala Dinner (cornerstone fundraiser generating nearly $130,000 in 2018), International Women's Day events, charity golf days, luncheons, and other community fundraising activities.
5. Bequests and Memorial Donations: Legacy giving program through wills. In Memoriam donations from families commemorating loved ones.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Northern Beaches Women's Shelter provides free crisis accommodation, transitional housing, and low-cost accommodation, alongside a community outreach support program, for homeless women and women at risk of homelessness on Sydney's Northern Beaches. The organization operates three facilities (Manly Shelter with 12 crisis beds, Pittwater Shelter with 8 crisis beds, and Narrabeen House with 90 independent studios/1-bedroom units) staffed 24/7 by qualified professionals who deliver individual case management, safety planning, and referrals to legal, health, financial, and employment services.

Product overview

Northern Beaches Women's Shelter operates as a single-site shelter service offering crisis accommodation, transitional housing, low-cost accommodation, and outreach support programs. The organization runs three facilities: Manly Shelter (12 crisis beds), Pittwater Shelter (8 crisis beds), and Narrabeen House (90 transitional/low-cost units). Services are delivered through an individual case management approach, assisting women to access permanent accommodation and community support. The HUGS monthly giving program provides sustainable funding streams. There is no platform or modular product architecture; all offerings are direct service delivery programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Crisis Accommodation Emergency short-term shelter accommodation for homeless women, providing up to 3-month stays (average ~42 days) with 24/7 professional support and case management across the Manly Shelter (12 beds) and Pittwater Shelter (8 beds).
• Transitional Accommodation Medium-term housing at Narrabeen House providing 90 independent studios and 1-bedroom units for women transitioning from crisis accommodation toward independent living, plus the Myer Transition House for additional transitional support.
• Low-Cost Accommodation Affordable housing options at Narrabeen House for women who need stable, low-cost accommodation as part of their recovery pathway.
• Outreach Support Program Community-based support services for vulnerable women at risk of homelessness, providing case management, safety planning, referrals, advocacy, and pathways to housing (currently supporting 72 women).
• HUGS Monthly Giving Program (Help Us Give Safety) Monthly giving program enabling regular donors to provide steady financial support for shelter operations, with tiered giving levels from $25 to $500 per month.

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Women's Community Shelters (WCS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2015From 2015 to late 2024, NBWS worked in collaboration with Women's Community Shelters for governance and advocacy services. WCS makes representations to government and peak bodies about female homelessness. CEO Annabelle Daniel of WCS has been a key advocate. Partnership ended when NBWS transitioned to full independence in October 2024.
• Rotary Club of Manly SunrisemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPainted and refreshed the newly leased Shelter property as part of charitable donation including installing fencing and other security measures. Long-time community supporter.
• Soroptomist International (Manly)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided furniture and established a library for residents when the shelter opened in 2010. Long-time community supporter.
• Community Northern BeachescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFormerly Manly Community Centre, initially provided expert advice on setting up and running the shelter, offering support services to residents. Continues to provide community services including drop-ins 10am-3pm Monday-Friday at 52 Raglan Street, Manly.
• The Sisterhood BalgowlahminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity group that donated household goods, clothing and essential items when the shelter opened. Part of broader community support network.
• Women & Children FirstmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerReferral partner for women with custody of children. Contact: 02 9971 4499. NBWS refers families with children to this nearest family-related service.
• AdobeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter and sponsor of NBWS as shown on funding partners page.
• H&T ( Harvey Thompson)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter and sponsor of NBWS as shown on funding partners page.
• OzHarvestmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFood donation partner. NBWS manages regular bi-weekly OzHarvest food deliveries as part of shelter operations.
• bassikemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFashion retailer whose founder Deborah Sams hosts annual luncheons in support of NBWS. Now in seventh year (2025). Major awareness and fundraising partner.
• WoManlyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business network organization partnering with NBWS as part of community support.
• BNI (Business Network International)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness networking organization supporting NBWS as charity of choice.
• Manly Pacific HotelmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue sponsor for NBWS Annual Gala Balls. Hosted numerous events including 2024 'Roll Out the Red Carpet' and 2025 'The Crystal Ball' galas.
• The Boathouse GroupmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for NBWS events including Bassike luncheons and IWD events at Manly Pavilion.
• Manly Golf ClubmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue for NBWS Inaugural Charity Golf Day events. Unites business leaders and supporters for fundraising.
• Long Reef Golf ClubmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue for NBWS International Women's Day Breakfast events, including 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 celebrations.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Women's Community Shelters: Network operator of women's community shelters across NSW; NBWS was affiliated with WCS from 2015 to 2024 and spun out to full independence, making WCS the closest comparable organization.
• Domestic Violence NSW: Peak body for domestic and family violence services in NSW; given DV accounts for 44% of NBWS presentations, this represents the principal sector advocacy and service coordination peer.
• Community Northern Beaches: Local community services organization (formerly Manly Community Centre) and founding partner of NBWS; provides drop-in services and refers homeless women to the shelter.

Regional players

• Sacred Heart Mission: Melbourne-based community organization providing homelessness services, housing support, and outreach to vulnerable populations including women; comparable continuum-of-care model.
• Launch Housing: Melbourne-based homelessness services provider offering crisis, transitional, and social housing; comparable operating model though based in Victoria rather than NSW.
• Wayside Chapel: Sydney-based community services organization supporting homeless and marginalized people with crisis services and outreach, overlapping with NBWS's mission in the broader Sydney geography.

Broad incumbents

• Mission Australia: Major national homelessness and community services provider operating crisis accommodation, transitional housing, and outreach programs for vulnerable Australians including women and families.
• YWCA Australia: National women's services organization providing women's housing, DV support, and community programs across Australia, overlapping with NBWS's mission and service categories at greater scale.
• The Salvation Army Australia: Large established charity providing crisis accommodation, DV services, and homelessness support nationwide, including women's refuges, serving as a broader incumbent in the same service category.
• St Vincent de Paul Society NSW: Long-established community welfare organization operating homelessness services, crisis accommodation, and material aid; referenced in NBWS's founding history as an early referral partner in Brookvale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/NBWS_org
• Facebookfacebook.com/NBWomensShelter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nbws
• Instagraminstagram.com/nbws_org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Northern Beaches Women's Shelter