- 316 social and affordable homes to be developed across four locations in Brighton East, St Kilda and Balaclava
- The buildings will be funded by the NHFIC, HousingFirst, City of Port Phillip (CoPP) and the Victorian State Government
- Aimed at addressing homelessness and helping people living with disabilities
Melbourne is set to see an increase in the supply of social and affordable homes with the development of three apartment housing projects.
Over 200 homes are soon to be completed as part of a larger program to deliver 316 social and affordable homes across four locations in Brighton East, St Kilda, and Balaclava.
The program is funded in collaboration between the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC), HousingFirst, City of Port Phillip (CoPP) and the Victorian State Government, with the first three projects costing $90.4 million.
Helping homelessness and people living with disabilities
The NHFIC has provided HousingFirst, a Victorian community housing provider, with $18 million in grants and loans for infrastructure works through the National Housing Infrastructure Facility (NHIF).
The funding is aimed at accelerating the construction of these much-needed social and affordable housing developments for people listed on the Victoria Housing Register, including individuals living with disabilities and women over 55 years old at risk of homelessness.
Housing First CEO Haleh Homaei said, “NHFIC will continue to work collaboratively with states and territories to support more projects, delivering social and affordable housing for vulnerable individuals and families.”
“If it takes a village to raise a family, then it takes Commonwealth, State and Local government to truly raise the thousands of community homes Australia will need over coming decades.
“These 316 homes are positive proof of all levels of government working together in conjunction with a community housing provider for the common good.”
Federal Minister for Housing Julie Collins said: “Working together in partnerships like this to build more social and affordable homes are what we’re trying to achieve through our Housing Australia Future Fund which will help more vulnerable Victorians.”
Balaclava, St Kilda and Brighton East projects
The Balaclava project is made up of architect-designed one, two and three-bedroom apartments for families on the Victoria Housing Register, as well as some Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA).
In Brighton East, a redevelopment of 69 aged-care units is also underway, transforming them into 152 self-contained apartments for people over 55 years old.
Meanwhile, St Kilda has seen the redevelopment of a rooming house into 36 self-contained apartments designed specifically for women over 55 years old. The St Kilda project also includes a flexible communal area, complete with a HousingFirst office, to foster a supportive community.
The remaining Balaclava property is expected to deliver up to 82 additional apartments, further contributing to the overall increase in social and affordable housing in the region.
These collaborative efforts between NHFIC, HousingFirst, CoPP, and the Victorian State Government demonstrate a commitment to addressing the growing need for accessible and affordable homes in Melbourne, ensuring a brighter future for vulnerable residents.
State Minister for Housing, Colin Brooks said: “Addressing housing needs is a shared responsibility of all levels of government. I’m proud to be joined here today in Balaclava by HousingFirst, the City of Port Phillip and our Commonwealth colleagues to deliver this important project.
