Published on Thursday, 4 August 2022 at 8:00:00 AM
The Town of Bassendean and community housing provider Connect Victoria Park Inc (Connect) are joining forces to make nine housing units available for older residents on low-to-moderate incomes, particularly older single women, as fixed-term tenancies at the Town’s Hyde Retirement Village on James Street, in the heart of Bassendean. This follows a decision by the Town of Bassendean Council late last year to complement the current lease-for-life arrangements at the Village with Community Housing as a way to contribute local solutions to the housing crisis.
Town of Bassendean Mayor Kathryn Hamilton said, “The housing crisis throughout Australia is well known. Single older women are overrepresented amongst the asset poor and are one of the fastest growing groups of homeless people nationally. Western Australia, and Perth specifically, is no different, with many reports readily available quoting high numbers of older women who are at risk of homelessness in Perth and large waiting lists for social housing. With nine units currently available, this partnership between the Town of Bassendean and Connect is an important local initiative to do what we can, as a small local government, to assist in the provision of housing that is affordable for older people”.
Connect has provided Community Housing for older people in Victoria Park for over 60 years. They also operate the first Village Hub in Western Australia, nurturing a community of people over 55 who come together to support each other in ageing well and living independently for as long as possible. Currently, Connect owns and manages 70 units and 4 retirement villas in Vic Park, while the Village Hub facilitates activities and services for over 300 members.
Connect will manage vacant units at HRV as affordable rental housing for low to moderate income people over 60, particularly women, who may be experiencing difficulties in the current rental market.
Although tenancies will not be restricted to current residents of the Town, priority will be given to those currently living in Bassendean and those with a family or social connection with the area. As with their housing in Vic Park, Connect will provide tenancy services that go beyond traditional management and include the provision of support and referral for tenants on matters impacting their tenancy or ability to live independently.
“Connect’s interest in managing the vacant tenancies at HRV is driven www.connectvictoriapark.orgby our desire to play a part in addressing the housing crisis impacting older people”, said Connect’s CEO, Luke Garswood. “We know from experience the value of a safe and secure home for older people. We know many older people seeking community housing have paid rent all their lives and find they can’t keep up with rent payments when they retire due to ill health or age. Sometimes people have retired with a large mortgage, or divorced and have little left to start again. Often people find themselves couch surfing or incredibly stressed as they worry over how to pay the next lot of rent or how to cope with the next increase”.
Connect’s tenancy management ensures positive outcomes for tenants and neighbours, said Mr Garswood. “We develop a positive relationship with tenants, making ourselves accessible and making regular visits to not only check on the state of the unit but also on the tenant’s wellbeing, including social connections and access to support services. This experience in supporting older people in tenancies ensures that we proactively address any age-related issues that may impact on a person’s ability to manage independently in their housing.”
For more information, go to the Town’s website link below, or Connect’s website at www.connectvictoriapark.org.
Community Housing at Hyde Retirement Village » Town of Bassendean
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