State puts money to social housing

MORE social housing is set to be built in Bendigo following a funding announcement by the State Government last week.

More than $41 million has been allocated to build 143 new homes across the region in partnership with four housing support organisations.

VincentCare Community Housing will help deliver 63 homes in Bendigo and The Haven Foundation will partner on 14.

Meanwhile Wintringham Housing will take on 35 properties in Golden Square, while Haven Home Safe will work on development of 16 homes in Kangaroo Flat and 15 in California Gully.

Construction is expected to commence by the end of the year, and the homes will be built for vulnerable central Victorians including those affected by family violence and homelessness, as well as Indigenous Australians and people with a mental illness or disability.

The money forms part of the first round of funding from the Victorian Government’s Big Housing Build, which includes almost $740 million for just over 2350 social housing properties across the state.

Member for Bendigo West, Maree Edwards, said the local homes would support people in need and the wider Bendigo community.

“These Big Housing Build projects will stimulate our local economy while providing the stability and security of a home for those in our community that need it most,” she said.

Member for Bendigo East, Jacinta Allan, echoed Ms Edwards’ comments and said the initiative would also create job opportunities.

“Our record investment in housing is not only providing a roof over the head of vulnerable Victorians who need it – it’s creating thousands of jobs and supporting the Victorian economy,” she said.

Just over 9000 jobs are expected to be created across Victoria, with about 1800 of those in the regions.

In total, $5.3 billion has been invested into the Big Housing Build which includes the construction of 12,000 social and affordable housing properties over four years.

Minister for Housing, Richard Wynne, said more than $1 billion worth of projects was starting this year.

“We’re getting on with delivering our Big Housing Build, giving more people the certainty of a roof over their head and the security of a job,” he said.

“This is so much more than a construction project – it’s a safe place to call home, training and apprenticeship opportunities and thousands of local jobs.”