Homes Victoria is partnering with HousingFirst to provide modern, fit-for-purpose homes for renters in the City of Whitehorse.
This new development will add 73 new social housing apartments to the area and help people on the Victorian Housing Register find a suitable place to call home.
Homes Victoria CEO Simon Newport said this investment means that homes can be delivered to the Victorians who need them most.
“Building new social housing is an important part of supporting Victorians from different life stages to find secure and suitable housing,” Mr Newport said.
“Community housing organisations (CHOs) provide additional support to empower renters to live independently, and to pursue the lives they want. They play a crucial role in delivering more social housing for Victorians.
“We’re proud to partner with HousingFirst to deliver fit-for-purpose housing that provide renters with not only a home, but support and a sense of community.”
CHO programs can be general, like community events in common spaces, or targeted to specific cohorts of renters – like our Wodonga project which assists young people.
Building smaller homes, like these studio, one and two-bedroom apartments, means existing renters in larger houses can downsize if appropriate – freeing up a space for a larger household to have a home.
HousingFirst acting CEO Clive Bowden highlighted that these apartments can help older renters continue to live at home.
“The HousingFirst team is very excited to be part of an innovative partnership with the Victorian Government and the City of Whitehorse that will shortly deliver 73 architect-designed, affordable homes for older people on a low income in the eastern suburbs,” Mr Bowden said.
“The inclusion of 23 dual-keyed studio apartments in the development is especially valued as it will allow older tenants to ‘age in place’ by supporting carers or shared accommodation while maintaining personal space, dignity and privacy.”
About the project
The new homes in the City of Whitehorse meet Victorian accessibility and building standards and include things like:
- A step free path to the door, without any steep slopes – so it’s safe for people with mobility aids or prams
- Doorways and corridors being wide enough to comfortably move through the home – even when people are moving furniture, pushing prams, or using mobility aids
- Well-designed bathrooms that make it easier to install supports like grab rails.
Renters from two local council rooming houses will move into these new apartments, alongside applicants from the Victorian Housing Register.
This project includes several dual key apartments – homes connected by a shared entryway.
These apartments have the flexibility to accommodate caregivers in situations where a person requires them. This gives both people their own space without compromising care.
Community housing is managed by community housing organisations like HousingFirst. Find out more about the CHOs we work with.
What is social housing?
Social housing is long-term rental housing that is available to Victorians who face barriers in finding suitable housing in the private market.
This includes people on low incomes, people escaping family violence, people living with a mental illness, and people at risk of homelessness.
Social housing is made up of two types of housing - public housing which is managed by the state government, and community housing which is managed by not–for-profit community housing organisations.
Find out more about social housing on the Homes Victoria website.