By Benjamin Millar
Demolition work has begun to pave the way for one of the inner-west’s largest social housing projects.
Unison is knocking down its aging 17-bed rooming house on the corner of Napier and Cowper streets in Footscray to make way for a $9.4 million, 54-unit redevelopment.
Victoria’s largest community housing provider, Unison has been responsible for a number of similar projects for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, including the 71-unit redevelopment of the Barkly Hotel in Footscray.
Consumer affairs minister Marlene Kairouz visited the site last Wednesday to announce
$5 million in state government funding from the Victorian Property Fund for the project, which will contain 42 one-bedroom units and 12 self-contained studios.
Unison acting chief executive Ed Holmes said Unison’s services in Seddon saw almost 3000 households in need in the 2016-17 financial year.
“In the last 12 months we’ve seen an 18 per cent increase in people coming to us for help,” he said.
“That tells you a little bit why this new housing is so desperately needed.”
Rent for tenants will be capped at no more than 30 per cent of household income, ensuring the housing remains affordable.
Unison head of strategy Sarah Toohey said the self-contained nature of the units will give more privacy and dignity to the tenants.
“We are giving people a place they can call home,” she said.
Ms Toohey said the project is due to be completed by December 2019 and displaced tenants can return to one of the new units.
Ms Kairouz said the state government was investing in community agencies to help build projects that expand Victoria’s stock of social housing in areas of greatest need.
