The project will see an existing 12-unit rooming house, which is no longer fit-for-purpose, demolished to make way for the construction of a three-level building offering 26 self-contained units with space for support services and a concierge.
Council is supporting the project by making a $4 million contribution, including the transfer of an adjoining surplus lane valued at $365,000. Council welcomes the Victorian Government’s recent announcement under its Big Housing Build to contribute $3.7 million towards the new housing project via its Building Works – Accommodation for the Homeless package, as well as covering the operating costs for four years.
The project is based on the Common Ground model and will use a ‘Housing First’ approach, where persons who are homeless (rough sleeping) are provided with rapid, secure and permanent housing integrated with wrap around, on-site support services, including health and allied health services, to help them maintain their housing and re-engage with their community.
Housing will be allocated to persons from the Port Phillip Zero program’s ‘By-Name’ List, by Council’s service partners who provide outreach to persons rough sleeping in Port Phillip. The project, to be delivered by St Kilda Community Housing, is scheduled for completion by 2025.
In addition to the Wellington Street project, Council has also provided direct support for the Marlborough Street community housing project in Balaclava, which is currently under construction, in partnership with the Victorian Government and HousingFirst. This project will include 46 affordable housing apartments, together with a replacement public car park and new open space.
Council has donated the land at Marlborough Street to HousingFirst to enable development of this project, which is close to shops and adjacent the Balaclava train station.
Construction of this project has been funded under the Victorian Government’s Big Housing Build’s $2.7 billion Building Works Package, announced in July 2020. This includes nearly $500 million for public and community housing projects to boost the economy and create thousands of jobs across the state. The Marlborough Street housing project is scheduled to be completed by mid-2023.
