Women’s Property Initiatives has opened the doors to nine stunning apartments in Nightingale Village in Brunswick. These one and two-bedroom apartments will offer a pathway out of housing stress for a group of single women and single mums who deserve a new beginning.
Nightingale Village is a collection of six neighbouring buildings, each designed by an award-winning architect, using the social, environmental and financial sustainability principles of the Nightingale model and with community in mind. We are thrilled to be able to offer homes for women in need, in this exciting urban village set beside the Upfield train line.
The building has a minimum 7-star energy rating and is Australia’s first carbon neutral residential project. Our new homes in Nightingale Village are funded through Homes Victoria’s Social Housing Growth Fund, part of the Big Housing Build which will deliver more than 12,000 social housing properties and create more than 10,000 jobs over the life of the program.
It would not have been possible for WPI to purchase these homes without a generous contribution from our long-term supporter, Matrix Guild, who will have nomination rights for four of the apartments. Their contribution was the result of a bequest from the late Sara Elkas, a founding member.
Sara was very proud of her involvement in setting up the first Australian affordable housing initiative specifically for old lesbians and left a substantial part of her estate to Matrix Guild. Sara’s partner of 23 years, Shoshi, recently toured the site and was thrilled with the homes that Sara has helped to create.
We are proud of the homes that provide a new beginning for women in Nightingale Village, designed around social, environmental and financial sustainability. These homes provide our tenants with an opportunity to be part of an eclectic, inclusive and vibrant community and are beautiful spaces to live.
On any given night more than 49,000 women are homeless in Australia and more than 400,000 Australian women over 45 are at risk of homelessness. WPI’s goal is to work with partners to provide homes for women that are a foundation for happy and healthy lives. We applaud the State Government’s commitment to providing secure housing for vulnerable Victorians.
