2 November 2023
Women’s Property Initiatives set to double its impact with major social housing
project
Women and children will be the focus of a major social housing project to be managed by community housing specialists, including Women’s Property Initiatives.
The Victorian Government’s 40-year Ground Lease Model 2 project will deliver 1370 new social, affordable, market rental and specialist disability homes, with WPI a key partner in the successful consortium, Building Communities.
Of the 650 new social homes, WPI will manage and maintain 200 homes, providing specialist support to more than 290 vulnerable women and children in female-led households.
More than 50,000 women are homeless in Australia on any given night. The largest cohort seeking homelessness services in 2022 were individuals and families who had experienced family violence, 76% of them were women.
“Many of the women we will support will be older women, who are the fastest growing group of people facing homelessness in Australia,” said Lucy Simms, Head of Strategy and Partnerships at WPI.
WPI has co-designed the homes with their partners with the needs of women and children in mind.
“It’s incredibly rare to for there to be such a focus on designing social and affordable homes that are especially for women and women led families. They will be family friendly, long term, safe homes with enhanced security.”
WPI will support the women and their families by partnering with wrap around service organisations local to the area, such as health, employment and education services. “We will work with service partners to help create new beginnings and see the generational impact a safe place to live can have on children.”
WPI currently provides homes for more than 270 women and children. Managing an additional 200 homes as part of this project will double the organisation’s impact and open the doors to homes for more than 290 women and children.
WPI joins the Building Communities consortium, which includes Community Housing (Victoria) Limited, Aboriginal Community Housing (Victoria) Limited, Icon as the builder and Tetris Capital as bid lead, financial advisor and asset manager. In addition to investment from the housing providers, financing is being provided by Tetris Capital, abrdn and Invesis as institutional investors, and Housing Australia, SMBC and ANZ as debt financiers.
“We are proud to be part of a team that is actively tackling the gender equality gap. More than 50% of our board members are female, and we have a strong focus on women in leadership and trades. We’d like to think this project is setting the benchmark for PPPs across the country for its serious recognition of women as decision makers.” Ms Simms said.
Artist impression of the project development
For Media Enquiries:
Lucy Simms, Head of Strategy and Partnerships, Women’s Property Initiatives (WPI)
M 0407582923
Sally Martin, Communications Manager Women’s Property Initiatives (WPI)
M 0413777455
