New benchmark for affordable housing Believe Housing Australia’s $14 million Mansfield Park affordable housing development has been hailed as Project of the Year at the prestigious Urban Development Institute of Australia (SA) Awards for Excellence.
tenant Johnathan was one of countless South Australians facing the struggle of finding an affordable rental. He and his partner had been forced to vacate the property they had only been renting for 12 months after the landlord initially sought to increase rent by $50 a week but then decided to sell the home. “We were already paying $400 for a two-bedroom apartment, which was really expensive for us,” Johnathon said. “Then we had the added pressure of trying to find a new place. Described by the panel of judges to be “world-class and outstanding”, Mansfield Park also claimed the Affordable Housing Award. The 37 purpose-built two and three- bedroom rental homes on Wilson Street, which include six specialist disability accommodation units, were brought into being by the AnglicareSA development team headed by Gayle Dunnett. The project was then initiated and managed to completion by Richard Hubert. AnglicareSA CEO Grant Reubenicht said: “I am extremely appreciative and proud of the hard work that the AnglicareSA development team did to bring a concept through from initiation to completion of such a worthwhile project that has now achieved the rightful accolades it deserves so far.” These properties are managed by Tier 1, not-for-profit community housing provider Believe Housing Australia (BHA). BHA Executive General Manager, Housing Services, Stacey Northover, said Mansfield Park was a great example of how Community Housing
Duncan Fairclough, Frankie Lea, Ben Vigor, Stacey Northover, Darren Huitema, Rachael Napper, Jodi Dreyer, Christie Marrot-Castellat, Sasha Cameron, and Richard Hubert at the UDIA(SA) Awards for Excellence
“Believe Housing Australia has delivered a simply outstanding project that complements and lifts the wider urban renewal in the area, delivering a welcoming place to call home with every essential service and facility at their fingertips,” he said. “It has created a micro-village that 37 families call home in an interesting, attractive, and connected community, close to essential services and facilities.”
“But the reality is, it’s tough out there and trying to find a home is almost a full-time job with long lines outside homes of people competing for the same property.” Searching listings online at every opportunity, Johnathon and his partner came across Believe Housing Australia which was advertising rentals for its affordable housing development at Mansfield Park following its unveiling in March. “We secured a home here and we’re now actually saving more than $100 a week, which is a huge help as it will hopefully assist us to get back on our feet and save some money,” he said. Providers could deliver housing solutions during a housing crisis, that were also created with community connection in mind. “I want to thank the UDIA for this incredible honour of not only winning the award for excellence in an Affordable Development, but also Project of the Year,” she said. UDIA SA Chief Executive Liam Golding hailed the housing project as an exceptional development.
A welcome home in Mansfield Park Believe Housing Australia
Mansfield Park tenant Johnathon
“We’re currently on a 12-month lease but the goal is to get back on our feet and to open up this home to someone else in need.”
3
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker