Our Guest Speaker this week was Caroline Larcher. Caroline is a chartered structural engineer with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the University of Melbourne and a Master of Science in Water and Environmental Management from the UK.
For the past 9 years, Caroline has worked as Development Manager for Women’s Property Initiatives, a community housing agency that provides long-term affordable rental properties for women and children.
She has been largely responsible for the growth of WPI’s housing portfolio from 19 houses to a current total of 83 houses and apartments, with more in development.
Women’s Property Initiatives (WPI) is a 21-year-old not-for-profit, community housing organisation that creates new beginnings for women facing homelessness by providing permanent and affordable homes (Social housing), access to support networks and ongoing advocacy.
Caroline advised that there has been an increase in homelessness, particularly among single women with children, who make up about 85% of the homeless cohort. Generally, they are financially disadvantaged with low income and few, if any, assets. Women mostly have only about 1/3 the superannuation of men.
She reported on two projects that are in development in Pakenham and Beaconsfield.
The first project in Storey Drive, Pakenham, involves building 6 houses with 2-3 bedrooms each. The first two houses will begin construction in the first half of 2019. These will provide low-rent social housing long term for local single homeless women. The renters can eventually buy the house they live in, if they wish.
The second project is situated in Goff Street in Beaconsfield and is aimed at a different cohort of homeless women. They will be over 55 years old and have some assets, so they will not qualify for social housing. However, they can contribute their assets towards the building of a house in the form of a loan, but they cannot afford to purchase a house by themselves.
The plan is to build 4 single storey 2 bedroom units designed speciically for older people with mobility access and larger doorways and spacious bathrooms etc. These are at the design stage and drawings are being finalised for building permits.
In both projects, WPI will be the Landlord and be responsibile for maintenance and rates etc. Both projects should be completed within 12 months'
