Community Services Minister Simone McGurk has today announced $2.2 million in Lotterywest funding for an innovative project that will provide 18 prefabricated houses for women who are experiencing homelessness.
The grant was presented to St Patrick's Community Support Centre and My Home Australasia. This partnership will provide housing on a vacant site in North Fremantle for women over the age of 55 who are experiencing homelessness.
My Home will construct 18 houses with prefabricated wall, roof and floor panels delivered to and erected on the site, ready for the builder to fit out the houses.
St Patrick's will allocate the dwellings to clients, and facilitate the tenants' access to support services to help them sustain their tenancies and live as independently as possible in the community.
Tenants will pay rent, which will be calculated as if they live in public housing.
The North Fremantle site is owned by the Public Transport Authority and St Patrick's will have a peppercorn lease with the Department of Communities. Minderoo Foundation is also providing funding for the project.
My Home Australasia is a philanthropic development organisation that takes an architectural approach to housing and land developments to provide a high standard of accommodation for people who would otherwise be homeless.
As stated by Community Services Minister Simone McGurk:
"The My Home proposal to provide high-quality, architect-designed prefabricated homes on vacant, State Government-owned land has been about two years in the making.
"It is an innovative idea and the State Government will be monitoring its progress and outcomes.
"It is a sad reality that women aged over 55 are the fastest-growing cohort of people experiencing homelessness in Australia, so I welcome this project's focus on enabling vulnerable individuals to live safely and comfortably in the community with wraparound support services.
"My Home North Fremantle is the first project of its kind in WA and a good example of the State Government working collaboratively with the community and not-for-profit sectors to support innovative projects.
"There has been extensive negotiation between all the parties involved, and this $2.2 million in Lotterywest funding will make the idea a reality."
