Thursday, 22 February 2024

St Kilda community housing

Ryan BATCHELOR (Southern Metropolitan) (09:48): More housing for those experiencing homelessness is at the heart of a new project in St Kilda. On Monday I had the honour of attending the sod-turning of St Kilda Community Housing’s new project in Wellington Street. I was there with Mr Berger, who had his foot on the spade, the member for Albert Park, the federal member for Macnamara and local council and community advocates. The project has demolished an old rooming house which had 12 rooms, and in its place will rise a three-storey brand new modern facility with 26 self-contained studio units designed for those in the St Kilda community who are experiencing chronic homelessness. We are doubling the capacity of housing on the site with funding from the Victorian government and the City of Port Phillip in partnership with St Kilda Community Housing, who will provide the tenancy management and onsite support services, including drug and alcohol counselling, mental health treatment and health care. St Kilda Community Housing do a great job in the local community providing support for more than 300 people across their various properties, many of whom have complex needs and challenges. Unlike some in this chamber who talk down community housing, who think that it is not good enough, the Labor government think our community housing sector does a great job looking after some of the most vulnerable Victorians. We are proud to be their partners and proud to be building more community housing.