Media Release by Senator the Hon Mark Arbib

84 New Social Housing Dwellings in Melbourne

Joint Media Release with:

  • Maria Vamvakinou MP, Member for Calwell

Vulnerable people, including seniors and people with disability, will benefit from a new social housing development opened in Broadmeadows today.

Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness Mark Arbib and Federal Member for Calwell Maria Vamvakinou said the new development in Pearcedale Parade was supported by more than $16.9 million from the Australian Government. 

“This development will provide a stable and safe home for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in the Melbourne region,” Senator Arbib said.

“It features 84 units with a six-star energy rating, with energy efficiency inclusions to assist tenants to save money in energy bills.

“I would like to thank Yarra Community Housing for their involvement in the development and management of this housing development.

“Through this development, we are helping to reduce homelessness, and are giving vulnerable people in Melbourne a better future.”

Ms Vamvakinou said the development was funded through the Australian Government’s Social Housing Initiative, designed to assist low income Australians who are homeless or struggling in the private rental market.

“The new development will give peace of mind to some of the vulnerable people in Melbourne in need of a home, including those with disability,” Ms Vamvakinou said.

“All 84 of these units incorporate universal design principles to assist people who live with disability and aging Australians to remain in their home for longer.  

“Most importantly, these wonderful new dwellings will give some of our most vulnerable people a place to call home.”

The Australian Government’s $5.6 billion investment under the Social Housing Initiative represents the single largest investment in social housing ever undertaken by an Australian Government.

In Victoria, more than 3,500 of the over 4,600 new homes the Government has committed funding to have been completed under the Social Housing Initiative.

Under the Social Housing Initiative, around 19,600 homes are being constructed across the nation and will be completed by June 2012 – over 16,000 of these have already been completed.