Elizabeth Street Common Ground |
Elizabeth Street Common Ground is a partnership between HomeGround Services, Yarra Community Housing, the Victorian Government and the developer Grocon.Grocon will turn an unused plumbing warehouse site into approximately 161 high quality self contained units with on-site support services. 75% of these will be allocated to people who were formerly homeless and 25% will be allocated to low income earners. This mix helps ensure a vibrant community and a diversity of tenants.
Grocon will construct the facility at cost/without profit. This represents a significant contribution to the goal of ending homelessness in Melbourne. This level of support from a commercial developer is unprecedented in Australia.
HomeGround will both provide all on-site support services in the areas of health, law, education, recreation and wellness, together with around the clock security and concierge services. Yarra Community Housing will own the building and manage tenancies. The State Government has committed $3.1 million over 4 years to fund support services within the building.
View the website here for construction updates and more information: www.elizabethstcgsh.org.au
Construction begins
Victorian Premier John Brumby has announced that Victoria’s first supportive housing development, Elizabeth Street Common Ground, has been granted final planning approval. At the launch of the construction phase for the 161 unit development, Mr Brumby said it would deliver a significant social benefit to the state.
Supportive housing refers to a successful housing and support model adapted from the US that provides quality housing together with coordinated long-term support services. Supportive housing targets the most vulnerable segments of the chronically homeless population who are most in need of continuing support both before and after they are housed.
The launch event featured political, business and community leaders including the Victorian Premier John Brumby; Housing Minister Richard Wynne; Planning Minister Justin Madden; Member for Melbourne and Education Minister Bronwyn Pike; Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle; Grocon CEO Daniel Grollo; HomeGround Services CEO and Australian Common Ground Alliance Chairperson Stephen Nash; Yarra Community Housing (YCH) CEO Rob Leslie; and formerly homeless YCH board member Michael Skitt.
Elizabeth Street Common Ground will cost $57 million and take 18 months to construct. It will comprise both supportive and affordable rental housing to ensure a diverse resident mix with around 25% of the units being affordable rental housing.
Leading property development and construction group Grocon are building the facility at cost. This amounts to an in-kind contribution of over $4 million. The City of Melbourne has contributed adjacent land worth $250,000. Other private firms and contractors are offering their services at cost or pro bono to support the project.
The property will be developed, owned and managed by not-for-profit housing association, Yarra Community Housing, who as part of their funding agreement with the Victorian Government will contribute around $9 million sourced from their own resources, borrowings, and through local government and other partners.
Onsite services including holistic case management, concierge, mental health, allied health, therapeutic, recreation and other specialist ancillary services will be provided by HomeGround Services under funding agreements with the Department of Human Services and other partners. A community enterprise will provide tenants with access to education, training and employment opportunities.
Housing Minister Richard Wynne complimented the Common Ground model saying it was innovative and had achieved excellent results internationally.
“Common Ground recognises that people need a stable and secure home first, followed by integrated support to help address the issues hat led them to become homeless.
“This enables people to maintain stability, rebuild their lives and stop the cycle of recurrent homelessness and crisis. Supportive housing has also been shown to reduce the hidden costs of homelessness, including costs to the justice and health systems, and social services.”
HomeGround Services CEO and Australian Common Ground Alliance Chairperson Stephen Nash called it a moment for celebration.
“Elizabeth Street Common Ground will be a circuit breaker for those who have historically cycled through a range of health and support services. It will provide them with a way to permanently end their homelessness.
“It takes housing to create homes and it takes support to maintain them. That is the principle behind supportive housing. I am very happy to be here today in this place where people will take possession of the keys to new homes and new possibilities.”
Mr Nash also commended the Prime Minister on his $6 billion investment in social and public housing as part of the national stimulus package.
“Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has demonstrated that ending homelessness is possible when you have a commitment to building houses, creating homes and reducing social disadvantage.”
Yarra Community Housing CEO Rob Leslie said Elizabeth Street Common Ground was possibly the largest community housing construction contract in Victorian history.
“I would like to thank each of the project partners and key consultants for their contributions, in particular the Housing Minister for his long-term personal commitment to both the project and meeting the needs of low income Victorians.
“The moral health of a community can be measured by how it cares for its most marginalised members. All Victorians should be proud of this project.”
Elizabeth Street Common Ground is a partnership between the Victorian Government, Grocon, HomeGround Services and Yarra Community Housing. Other supporters and partners include the Federal Government, Melbourne City Council and the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation.
