More vulnerable West Australian families are set to find new homes, with the first Perth properties refurbished under the McGowan Government’s $319 million Social Housing Economic Recovery Package (SHERP) now completed.
A public housing property in Greenwood is among the first four metropolitan properties to be refurbished, with the combined works valued at $313,000.
Another 56 refurbishments are currently underway State-wide.
The three-bedroom home was refurbished by local business Westport Construction and the work has added an estimated 20 years to the home’s useful life.
The works include a fully refurbished kitchen, bathroom, laundry and toilet, as well as new energy efficient appliances and upgraded security. The home has also received a full internal painting and all floors have been replaced.
The Department of Communities is managing the refurbishment program which helps vulnerable Western Australians into homes faster and without the additional costs and lengthy timeframe involved in demolishing and replacing properties.
Announced in June 2020, SHERP is the largest housing maintenance and refurbishment program in Western Australia’s history. It will see the refurbishment of up to 1,500 public and community houses, supported accommodation facilities such as FDV refuges, and residential group homes.
SHERP includes a rolling maintenance program for up to 3,800 regional government-owned properties. It will also see the delivery of up to 250 new social homes across metropolitan and regional areas to help the most vulnerable people in our community.
The package will be delivered in concurrence with the $150 million Housing and Homelessness Package and the $394 million METRONET Social and Affordable Housing and Jobs Package.
The McGowan Government is investing more than $860 million into social housing projects.
As stated by Housing Minister Peter Tinley:
“The completion of the first metropolitan refurbishments under the McGowan Government’s $319 million Social Housing Economic Recovery Package is a major milestone.
“I visited the Greenwood property in late October when the refurbishment work commenced, so it’s gratifying to know that this property is now available for the next family on the public housing wait list.
“By renovating this property, we have given it an extra 20 years of life which avoids the significant time and cost involved in demolishing and replacing it. It’s a great outcome for the government, taxpayers and future tenants.”
