Federal Homelessness Minister Claire O’Neill, fourth from left, and Regional Development Minister Kristy McBain, at right, at the Queanbeyan housing announcement. Photo: Blake Danilczak.
A dozen new homes to help women at risk of homelessness will be built within walking distance of the Queanbeyan CBD thanks to a Commonwealth grant of $4.8 million to Karabar Housing Cooperative.
The transitional housing project, to be built at Carinya Street, will be funded through the Housing Australia Future Fund’s Crisis and Transitional Accommodation Program (CTAP).
It is one of 42 projects across Australia receiving a share of $100 million, which is supporting the building, remodelling or the purchase of new or expanded crisis or transitional accommodation.
Federal Homelessness Minister Clare O’Neill said these homes would be built for a forgotten cohort of Australians struggling with the housing crisis: older women.
Ms O’Neill said older women were the fastest-growing group of homeless people in our country.
“This is a group of people who are often called the ‘forgotten women’, and I want them to know that under our government, they are not forgotten,” she said.
“That is why we have made these landmark commitments to social and emergency housing, which will assist women who are needing that emergency support to get it when they need it.”
Ms O’Neill said the Crown land had been transferred to Karabah Housing, facilitated by local state Labor member Steve Whan.
Karabar Housing Cooperative chair Viv Cox said the organisation had been providing affordable rental accommodation for nearly 40 years, starting with a Commonwealth Government capital grant, “just like we’re seeing today”.
“We’re all about looking after our tenants … so we’re so excited to move into the space of transitional housing for the older women in our community and in our region,” she said.
“We know we’ll do it well; we know we’ll do the funding proud.”
Regional Development Minister and Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain said it is essential for women over 55 to have a safe place to go.
“Building 12 additional transitional homes – in walking distance from the Queanbeyan CBD – will help reduce the strain on existing accommodation and provide more options for women,” she said.
Ms O’Neill said the housing issue was going to be pivotal in the coming election.
She said the Albanese Government had spent 20 times more on crisis and transitional accommodation than the Coalition spent in their nine years in office.
“Now, this is critical,” she said.
“Crisis and transitional accommodation is an urgent national need for us, not just for older women experiencing homelessness, but also for women who are fleeing domestic and family violence and other critical populations.
“I want people to see, we’ve got real dollars behind this problem, we’ve got fantastic partners in this community, and we’ve got real resolve to actually make a difference to this urgent national problem.”
Loading ...
