Our Common Ground Supportive Housing project is progressing well. The old rooming house is gone, and the foundations of the new building are in.
The old rooming house provided shared facility accommodation and was no longer fit for purpose. It wasn’t a good place to live and wasn’t a good neighbour. The Victorian Government, Homes Victoria, and The City of Port Phillip, are jointly funding the $10.5m project, which will replace the tired, 12 bedroom, shared facility rooming house with 26 self-contained studios, alongside concierge assistance, onsite support services, and renter-focused tenancy management services. Designed to house people with long and complex histories of homelessness, the new building will greatly improve the lives of all the people who will call it home.
Renters will be chosen from the Port Phillip Zero List, which aims to end rough sleeping in Port Phillip. As the number of people on the list closely matches the capacity of the building, this project will go a long way to addressing the long-term rough sleeper crisis in St Kilda.
Wellington Street will be delivered using Supportive Housing principles, the proven Common Ground model. The project will integrate well designed homes within a congregate setting with intensive support services. ‘Housing First’ principles will apply, ensuring that people experiencing homelessness are rapidly housed in a permanent, safe and secure home.
Our Builders, Bowden Corporation, are on track to deliver the project by July 2025. Demolishing the old building in February and commencing excavation work shortly after. Serious construction work is now underway with inground piles and installation of perimeter retaining walls completed. In-ground services, such as water, sewerage and stormwater pipes are being installed, with the the ground floor slab to be formed and poured soon. We anticipate that by early September the first-floor slab will be in place and by mid-January 2025 the roof will be completed. Framing and fit out of the ground floor will commence in November and the first and second floor fit out will follow shortly afterwards.
When complete, the building will also offer shared spaces, BBQ areas and opportunities to socialise. We look forward to the day when the building is fully tenanted and offering people a chance to stabilise and recover.
Steve
Chief Architect
St Kilda Community Housing
In partnership with
