Victorian Government and Haven; Home, Safe to build 16 new units in Bendigo for young people at risk of homelessness

“We’d start them tomorrow if we could,” board chair Sue Clarke said while standing on the site of the eight units to be built in North Bendigo.

The organisation is seeking the necessary approvals from the local council.

Haven; Home, Safe chief executive Ken Marchingo said it was encouraging to see City of Greater Bendigo chief executive Craig Niemann at today’s announcement.

“It shows council is very interested in these sorts of developments,” Mr Marchingo said.

“They, too, are very aware of the needs in the community generally.”

He was hopeful construction at the Flora Hill and North Bendigo would be underway ‘reasonably quickly’.

A lack of affordable housing was identified as a factor disadvantaging people on low incomes.

“For a lot of people who are on low incomes, they’ve got no options,” Mr Marchingo said.

He said a lack of affordable housing was an issue that had been developing for more than a decade.

“It needs a supply response. The governments know it needs a supply response,” Mr Marchingo said.

“There are opportunities and methods here where big changes can be made to affordable housing, so that’s what we need to see happen.”

Related: How many rental properties are affordable for low income earners in the Bendigo area?

The 16 new units announced today will house people aged 18 years and older.

The program won’t just involve housing; the participants will also have to commit to intensive support similar to the programs offered as part of the Sidney Myer Haven project.

“We really want to house people who are wanting to make a difference to their lives,” Ms Clarke said.

Mr Marchingo anticipated some of the young people who were accepted into the program would see it as a stepping stone.

“This will be medium-term transitional style accommodation for some,” he said.

“For others, it will be their lifetime home.”

Consumer Affairs Minister Marlene Kairouz praised the Haven service model.

“It is a wonderful model that we encourage to be replicated across the state,” she said.

Member for Bendigo West, Maree Edwards said affordable housing projects like the one announced today were vital for low income and disadvantaged young people in the community.

Member for Bendigo East, Jacinta Allan said the project would give some of the most disadvantaged young people every opportunity to succeed.

EARLIER: SIXTEEN new community housing units will be built in Bendigo to help vulnerable young people find stable, affordable accommodation.

Eight units will be built in Flora Hill, and a further eight units in North Bendigo.

The $4.62 million project aims to provide affordable, long-term rental housing for low income single young people and young, single parents at risk of homelessness.

Haven; Home, Safe and the state government will fund the project, with Consumer Affairs Minister Marlene Kairouz today announcing $2.78 million from the Victorian Property Fund.

“This project will have a significant impact on vulnerable young people in the Bendigo region to get back on their feet by providing stable and safe long-term accommodation where they need it most,”  Ms Kairouz said.

“The Victorian Government will continue to support social housing in regional areas through grants like the Victorian Property Fund can offer.”

Haven; Home, Safe will contribute $1.85 million.

Half of the eight units to be built at the Flora Hill site, on Somerville Street, will be one-bedroom units. The other four will be two-bedroom units.

All of the units at the Lobb Street site, in North Bendigo, will be two-bedroom units.

Proximity to the Bendigo CBD, transport, schools, TAFE, community services and employment opportunities were factors in the selection of both sites.

Rent will be capped at 75 per cent of market rent or 30 per cent of household income.

Haven; Home, Safe expects environmentally sustainable design features such as heat pumps and solar boosted hot water systems, water saving taps and shower heads, and plumbed rainwater collection tanks will also help reduce utility costs.

Support services will be a key component of the project.

Haven; Home, Safe said tenants of the Flora Hill site would be able to access the adjoining Sidney Myer Haven program.