Sustainable Village Delivering Affordable Housing

Dozens of Victorians at risk of or experiencing homelessness will benefit from secure housing, reduced power bills and the opportunity to build social connections in a ground-breaking new housing development in Brunswick.

Twenty-five new social housing apartments are planned to be acquired in the Nightingale Village, which will be Australia’s first carbon neutral residential precinct. The homes are being delivered under the Victorian Government’s Social Housing Growth Fund.

Minister for Housing Richard Wynne visited the village construction site today and said the project was a great example of what could be achieved when the Government, developers and community housing agencies worked together. Mr Wynne said, “This is a perfect example of community housing agencies, industry and governments at local and state level working together to provide safe, modern and affordable housing for those who need it most.”

Nine homes will be acquired by Women’s Property Initiatives, who provide long-term accommodation to women and children in need. A further 16 will be delivered by Housing Choices Australia, who provide affordable housing for people struggling to find a suitable private rental home, people with low incomes and those with a disability. 

All properties will provide housing for people on the priority access list of the Victorian Housing Register, including single parents, people with mental illness or a disability, and others experiencing chronic homelessness. Mr Wynne said, “This is a perfect example of community housing agencies, industry and governments at local and state level working together to provide safe, modern and affordable housing for those who need it most.”

“These high-quality, energy efficient apartments will make a huge difference for some of the most disadvantaged in our community – giving them the security of a home and slashing their energy bills.”

The new development will help lower-income Victorians save money and get ahead through energy efficient features such as rooftop solar systems and highly efficient electric appliances, including heat pumps for air conditioning and hot water heating. 

The Nightingale model also prioritises social connectedness through shared spaces such as communal laundries, productive gardens, multi-purpose rooms and a future park.

The new homes are on top of the Andrews Labor Government’s landmark $5.3 billion Big Housing Build – the largest single investment in social and affordable housing by any government in Australia, ever.

Work is now underway on the program, which will deliver more than 12,000 new homes and create an average of 10,000 jobs each year over the next four years.

The $1.38 billion invested in the Social Housing Growth Fund under the Big Housing Build is in addition to the initial $1 billion Social Housing Growth Fund seed capital, which has been used to fund the Nightingale project.