People gather outside a tiny house built by women for women leaving domestic and family violence.

She left domestic & family violence. Then came the harder part.

Finding somewhere safe and affordable to live — while everything else is still falling apart. Dandelion Safe Homes exists for what comes after: construction skills, traineeships & a pathway to a tiny house she owns.

See how we work ↓

QUEENSLAND · REGISTERED CHARITY · SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

Many organisations help women escape crisis.

Dandelion helps women build what comes next.

Four women standing inside a tiny house they built.

What We Do

We build with women.
Not for them.

Through construction workshops, Cert I traineeships and rent-to-buy housing pathways, Dandelion gives women leaving domestic and family violence practical skills, income and a path to a home they own.

Here's what we actually do

  • Tiny House Workshops

    Open to all women. No experience needed. Every two months, participants stand wall frames, install windows and doors — and leave knowing they can do more than they thought.

    Book a workshop →

  • Construction Traineeships

    Six-month programs run with a registered training organisation. Women complete a Certificate I in Construction and receive their White Card.

    Learn about traineeships →

  • Housing Pathways

    Four homes built and named. Twenty-five women on the waitlist — without a single advertisement. Our rent-to-buy model creates real ownership. Not dependency. Not free housing. A home she's paying off.

    Our homes →

  • The Commercial Model

    Commercial tiny home builds fund the charitable program. Our goal: a women-run factory building homes for sale, with all profits returned to the mission. Self-sustaining, not donation-dependent.

    How it works →

How Dandelion Began

Karen Muras pictured with shoulder-length wavy hair, smiling, wearing a purple top, a pearl necklace, large hoop earrings, and standing in front of purple flowers and green foliage.

Building a home changed more than where she lived.

Karen Muras left domestic and family violence with four children. She faced the same impossible choices many women face today — and decided to build her own way out. Literally. She gathered the materials, called on a carpenter friend to help, and built her own tiny home. She discovered that building something with your own hands changes what you believe is possible.

She started Dandelion so other women could have that same experience.

Read Karen's story →
  • Two women working in a woodworking shop, one using a drill press and the other observing, with shelves of tools and materials in the background.

    I want to build something

    You don't need experience, a plan, or any particular background. We run free tiny house workshops, a Cert I traineeship in construction, and we're building a housing pathway so women can own their own tiny home.

    See what's available for you →
  • A person holding a small wooden puppet theatre model in front of a tiny house on wheels. The building has steps leading to a door and a large window.

    I want to help

    You can donate materials, offer workshop space, partner as a business, volunteer your skills or give financially. Every part of a Dandelion home has a name on it — and it could be yours.

    How to get involved →
Two women working with woodworking tools outdoors under a clear blue sky. One woman wears a large straw hat and yellow safety vest, the other wears dark glasses and pink shirt. They are leaning over a workbench with a saw and wood pieces.

At Dandelion, building what comes next isn’t a metaphor.

“Just the self-value that people get from holding a hand tool and being able to use a hand tool. It's very empowering.”

— Karen Muras, founder

That moment — picking up a tool for the first time — is where it begins. Not just a new skill. A new sense of what's possible.

Talk to us.

Whether you're looking for support, want to partner with us, or just want to understand what we do — we're happy to talk.