Lisa used to own her own home, but changes in her life meant she had to let that home go.
She is now a proud renter of a social home at Dunlop Avenue, Ascot Vale.
Her new home is one of 200 new social and affordable homes built at the site by Homes Victoria as part of the State Government’s Big Housing Build Fast Start program.
The homes are managed by the registered community housing provider, Evolve.
The new homes provide security for renters and help them get back to doing the things they enjoy.
Lisa said moving into new community housing has brought her a sense of calm and control.
“You pay your rent, and then it's all done for you. The calm involved in that for me has been immense.”
Lisa said her new apartment was set up for what she needs, including good heating and cooling.
She praised Evolve for the work they have done to make renters feel comfortable in their new homes, including helping arrange mobility aid installation in Lisa’s bathroom to meet her needs.
“If something goes wrong, they will send out someone to fix it,” she said.
Secure and safe housing is more than just bricks and mortar. For Lisa, a new home has meant that she has been able to pick up her old hobbies like crochet. She is currently making a cat basket for her sister.
She has also been able to put her memory box up on the wall combining pieces of her past with her future.
About the Dunlop Avenue, Ascot Vale project
The 200 new homes in Dunlop Avenue, Ascot Vale were completed in February 2023. These social and affordable homes provide modern, safe and secure housing for Victorians who need it most.
The homes are modern and environmentally efficient, meaning they are less expensive to heat and cool.
Community housing provider Evolve is the tenancy manager for the social housing on the site.
Homes Victoria is providing more Victorians with safe and secure places to call home by partnering with community housing organisations like Evolve. Learn more about Dunlop Avenue, Ascot Vale project here
What is social housing?
Social housing is an umbrella term that includes both public housing and community housing. It generally indicates housing that involves some degree of subsidy.
Public housing is housing owned and managed by Homes Victoria. The government provides public housing to eligible Victorians including:
- people who are unemployed
- on low incomes
- live with a disability or a mental illness
- or who are at risk of homelessness.
What is Affordable housing?
Affordable housing is a broad term describing housing suitable for the needs of a range of low to moderate income households and priced (whether bought or rented) so these households can meet their other essential living costs.
All Homes Victoria affordable homes start affordable and stay affordable.
This means:
- Rents will never be more than market rent with the added protection of a cap set at 30 per cent of a median income.
- A 3-year lease, with the ability for eligible renters to extend their lease for a further 3 years.
- Rent will be increased annually, but no more than 5 per cent.
- All eligible applicants have an equal chance of being offered an affordable home through our ballot process.
What does Homes Victoria do?
Homes Victoria supports all Victorians to have access to safe, secure and affordable housing. We know what it means to have a place to call home. It is the foundation for each person and family’s health, wellbeing and safety. A home enables people to participate in community and the workforce, and to live their best possible life.
We’re working closely with industry, the not-for-profit sector and the community to chart a course for the future. Together, we’re building a sustainable housing system that can deliver for generations to come. And, above all, we’re ensuring more Victorians have a place to call home.
As part of the Big Housing Build, we’re creating 12,000 new homes across the state over the next four years. It’s Victoria’s largest investment in social and affordable housing in its history, creating over 40,000 jobs and $6.5 billion in economic activity across Victoria.
And we’re moving towards retiring our older high-rise housing as part of the High-rise redevelopment project.taking the next big step toward providing more modern, accessible and energy efficient homes, close to shops, transport and services so more Victorians have a great place to call home.
We will retire and transform 44 older-style towers across Melbourne over the coming years. We will deliver modern, accessible homes, and better community facilities. Find out more about High-rise redevelopment here
Read more Homes Victoria news, including project updates and stories from our renters here.