A new multi-million dollar social housing complex has been officially opened in St Albans to help more women at risk of homelessness.
Housing Minister Harriet Shing visited the St Albans site on January 24, to officially open the new $23.6 million social housing complex which will provide stable and long-term housing for women most in need.
Once the site of a single three-bedroom home, the redeveloped site now features 53 one-, two- and three-bedroom homes for up to 100 people, including First Nations women and women fleeing family violence.
The new homes are designed to meet the Liveable Housing Design Guidelines and each achieve a minimum seven-star energy rating to help residents reduce power consumption and save on bills.
St Albans MP Natalie Suleyman said, “there’s nothing more important than making sure everyone has a home, so it’s wonderful to be able to deliver housing for women who need it most, right here in St Albans.”
The homes will be owned and managed by Women’s Housing Limited, a community housing agency specialising in providing housing and services to vulnerable women.
During construction, the homes helped create more than 210 jobs and are conveniently located near social services such as schools, hospitals and public transport.
Meanwhile, Housing Minister Harriet Shing also paid a visit to the ARKit warehouse in Sunshine on January 24, where 25 new modular social homes for regional Victorians are being built in partnership with Haven Home Safe.
Once completed, the homes will be transported to Horsham to house up to 47 people on the Victorian Housing Register.
The homes will be modern, energy-efficient, and include heat pump hot water services to make them cheaper to cool in summer and heat in winter.
“Through innovative construction models – including modular housing – we’re addressing Victoria’s housing needs quickly and efficiently, while providing jobs across the state to assemble and install the homes,” said Minister Shing.
