The Liberal Government has today unveiled new social housing apartments that will provide housing for older people, including South Australians who were once homeless.
The $6.8 million four-storey apartment building on Churchill Rd in Prospect has a total of 20 apartments, built specifically for tenants aged 55 years or older.
Tenants have already begun moving in.
Minister for Human Services Michelle Lensink said the new apartments catered specifically for a particularly vulnerable cohort.
“We know that about half of Housing SA tenants are aged 55 years or older, so it is important that we take a longer-term approach to how we build our new public housing, so that properties remain liveable as tenants age,” said Minister Lensink.
“Our aim is to reduce social isolation and help tenants develop a sense of community.
“Four of the Churchill Road apartments will be used for a long-term supportive housing program for people who are homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness and the other 16 apartments will be offered to people on the housing register, or existing older Housing SA tenants who wish to transfer from their current property.
“In terms of the overall tenancy mix, around half of the tenants who will move in are currently experiencing issues related to insecure housing.”
An office on the ground floor allows housing officers and other services to come into the building and provide activities or services on site.
“Tenants will receive long-term support as a part of their tenancy. This support involves linking people with supports and services to improve health and social wellbeing outcomes,” said Minister Lensink.
The new apartments offer a range of features including step-less entry, provision for handrails in the bathrooms and larger spaces to allow space for mobility devices and all of the new buildings include lifts.
The Churchill Rd apartment building also includes a communal area of the second floor and a gardening area on the ground floor to offer opportunities for tenants to socialise.
“The location of this apartment building, and the others like it, is at the heart of the community, on or near arterial roads, so that people have easy access to public transport, connecting them with the wider community,” said Minister Lensink.
Earlier this year, a three-storey, 10-apartment building was opened on Prospect Rd, Blair Athol, and is already fully tenanted. Construction on a three-storey, 29-apartment building in Pleasant Ave, South Plympton, is also underway.
The three projects are the first of their kind for the South Australian Housing Trust, and replace older, run down Housing SA properties.
All three apartment buildings are located on main roads close to public transport and amenities.
Details of the three sites include:
Prospect: Churchill Rd – $6.8 million
• four stories, 20 apartments
• close to public transport and local amenities
• dedicated office space on ground floor for support services
• dwellings designed to maximise natural light, ventilation and views
• security features, and secure ground floor area for charging mobility scooters
• lift
• communal areas on second floor
• communal garden to reduce social isolation
• onsite parking
• completed October 2019.
Pleasant Ave, Plympton South – $9.6 million
• three stories, 29 apartments
• close to public transport and other services
• dwellings designed to maximise natural light, ventilation and views
• areas on each floor for tenant interaction and family visits
• design allows for improved visibility increasing security
• built to Universal Design Standards
• two lifts
• air conditioning in living areas to all dwellings
• Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliant bathrooms
• opportunity to provide targeted services to older tenants including an office/meeting room at ground floor
• onsite parking • under construction, to be completed in early 2020.
Blair Athol: Prospect Rd – $3.1 million
• Three stories, 10 apartments
• onsite parking
• lift
• garden communal areas
• bike storage
• communal garden (plantar boxes) • completed in March 2019 and fully tenanted.
