Proving housing for the disadvantaged

Description

Providing housing for the disadvantaged involves implementing practical measures to ensure access to safe, affordable, and adequate shelter for vulnerable populations. This strategy addresses homelessness, substandard living conditions, and housing insecurity by developing social housing, offering rental assistance, and supporting community-based housing initiatives. The core intent is to remedy exclusion from stable housing, improve living standards, and promote social integration, thereby reducing poverty and its associated social and health problems.

Implementation

The Wintringham Port Melbourne Hostel in Melbourne, Australia provides a permanent home to 36 frail older people who were formerly living on the streets or in temporary housing and who are particularly vulnerable to life in homeless persons' shelters. The hostel is of high-quality design and consists of six cottages set within landscaped gardens. Each of the cottages houses between five and seven residents, each with their own en-suite room. A part-time house-carer prepares the daily meals and gives support and assistance. Innovative approaches to design and management have been used, enabling lower than average construction and running costs to be achieved, whilst providing a high quality of life for the residents.