New affordable housing units opened in geelong

THREE new affordable rental properties have been unveiled in Northern Geelong, a collaborative effort between the Northern Geelong Rental Housing Co-operative (NGRHC) and the state government.

Victorian Minister for Housing Harriet Shing presided over the official opening, which was funded through the $5.3 billion Big Housing Build by Homes Victoria.

The newly built two-bedroom units are tailored to accommodate the needs of existing NGRHC renter-members, reflecting their evolving living requirements.

As a result, three additional affordable rental properties will now be accessible for those listed on the Victorian Housing Register.

Co-op manager Vicki Ross said the security enjoyed by the co-op’s renter-members is a rarity in the present housing crisis.

“Our rents are charged at 25 per cent of family incomes and capped at market rates, when income increases rent rises, however rents are capped at the market rate set by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.”

Ms Ross said the co-op had a long-standing membership with many families having enjoyed the security of a home for life.

NGRHC acquired a large plot of land in Norlane for the project, collaborating with Homes Victoria for financing.

In the City of Greater Geelong, the co-op oversees 58 houses for Homes Victoria, solely relying on calculated affordable rent from its renter-members for income.

Most of these renter-members are low-income Victorians eligible for public housing and registered on the Victorian Housing Register.

The demand for housing remains high in the Greater Geelong area.

According to the Victorian Housing Register, 4,071 homes are still needed in Geelong North and 2,616 in Geelong South.

“We as housing providers don’t have any hope of filling this need unless we all start to think more creatively about housing,” Ms Ross said.

“We need to make better use of these scarce assets and start thinking about things like better utilisation of land and existing houses. NGRHC supports liveable spaces and does not promote the urban sprawl.”

“The government has quite a job on its hands as they try to develop and invest in ideas to create more housing while at the same time trying to make the existing old stock they have last a bit longer.”