The Hamilton Housing Project

The Hamilton Rotarians welcomed Kate Ogilvie and Sarah Sheppard to their meeting last week to introduce the Hamilton Project. Kate and Sarah attended the Rotary meeting to answer any questions about the Community Housing development, which will be based in Hamilton on the unceded lands of the Gunditjmara people.

President Noel Howard, Kate Ogilvie, Kevin Safe and Sarah Sheppard

The project will provide 19 two-bedroom single story units and 5 three-bedroom double story townhouses. These will be available for women and their children that are at risk of homelessness and have strong connections to the Hamilton region (past or present).

One of the key goals of this project is to foster independence for residents. By offering secure and affordable housing, the project provides an opportunity for women and children to build a stable future. The units are designed to meet the needs of low-income individuals who often struggle to access the private rental market or achieve homeownership. This initiative offers a lifeline for those facing those challenges, ensuring that they have a safe place to call home.

WHL will be providing on-site support, with a dedicated tenancy officer who will visit regularly. The officer will assist with any rental-related questions and provide information for further support if needed. Additionally, the project will collaborate with local services and community groups to ensure that residents have access to a wide range of resources, fostering a supportive environment where they can thrive.

The Hamilton Housing Project represents a significant resource and step toward addressing housing insecurity in the region. WHL is demonstrating a commitment to empowering women and children in the regional victorian community.

This August, the annual Sheepvention in Hamilton drew crowds to celebrate agriculture, innovation, and community. Our lovely representatives from Women’s Housing; Kate, Veronica, Adam, Tamara, and Michelle attended the event to showcase Women’s Housing’s (WHL) dedication to community engagement. Their attendance was especially significant given WHL’s recent expansion, now managing multiple properties in rural Victoria.

WHL Team (Adam and Veronica)

This was the second year Women’s Housing attended Sheepvention, and there was a notable difference. Locals expressed that they had a much clearer understanding of what Women’s Housing offers compared to last year. Many have been following our developments and have seen new properties becoming available to the local community.

Many of the conversations focused on dispelling misconceptions about Women’s Housing and explaining our mission to support local communities facing housing crises.

Sheepvention was a celebration that brought the Hamilton community together, offering an incredible array of information across all types of sectors. The event also had a fantastic selection of food for attendees, with the jam donuts being a WHL favourite.

The sheep of Sheepvention

The entertainment was equally as great as the food, and featured guys like this —>

To find out more about next year’s event, including dates, ticket information, and event highlights, visit the Hamilton Showrounds website.

Over the last few months Women’s Housing among other organisations, have been folding origami houses for the Houses at Parliment campaign. Hosted by the Victorian Homelessness Network and Local Area Service Networks, the installation at Parliment lead into Homelessness Week.

A total of 6,000 houses were made, representing just 10% of the social housing stock needed in Victoria to address the needs of people and families on the VHR.

Last week, our lovely staff member Sarah Sheppard, who manages our Women’s Services Department, attended the campaign at parliament. Sarah served as the region contact for Northern Homelessness Network, a member of the HAP Logistics Working Group, and Chief Marshal on the day.

Sarah Sheppard at Parliment steps

The Victorian Homelessness Network and Local Area Service Networks spoke to dozens of MPs about the housing crisis emphasizing the need for more funded support and more houses.

Minister Harriet Shing, without invitation or script, delivered an excellent speech on her commitment to ending homelessness. Media coverage was estimated to reach over 500,000 Australians through 15 radio programs and 8 TV programs, and we were featured in the Guardian’s roundup of best photos of the day.

Go to the VHN website to learn more about the campaign and how you can get involved.

On 24th January 2024, The Hon. Harriet Shing, Minister for Housing, formally opened Women’s Housing Ltd’s St Albans property.  The project was funded by Homes Victoria as part of $5.3 billion Big Housing Build and delivered in partnership with Women’s Housing Ltd.

The site features 53 one, two and three bedroom homes for women in need and is conveniently located close to public transport, playgrounds, schools and the St Albans shopping district. The property is designed to meet the Liveable Housing Design Guidelines and each dwelling achieves a minimum seven-star energy rating – helping residents reduce power consumption and save on bills.

“We’re continuing our work to provide housing, care and services to people most in need, including First Nations women and survivors of family violence.”  The Hon. Harriet Shing, Minister for Housing.

The building was named in honour of Chloe Munro AO, a generous benefactor to Women’s Housing Ltd.  Fred Backler, Chloe’s son, was present to honour Chloe’s legacy of providing safe and secure long term housing for vulnerable women.

Pictured above: The Hon. Harriet Shing, Fred Backler, Judy Line, The Hon. Natalie Suleyman

“There’s nothing more important than making sure everyone has a home, so it’s wonderful to be able to deliver housing for women who need it most, right here in St Albans.”  The Hon. Natalie Suleyman, Member for St Albans.

Sarah Sheppard, Women’s Services Manager, was also asked to participate in a plenary panel: the Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort 3 years on. WHL represented the mainstream access and entry points on the panel as one of many agencies on the Blueprint Steering Committee for the formation of an Aboriginal Entry Point system.

Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort is the Victorian Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Framework and it translates to ‘Every Aboriginal Person has a home’ in Gunditijmara language.

Also on the panel was Darren Smith at AHVIC and Jason, an Aboriginal man with lived experience.

For more information on the Blueprint Steering Committee click here.

As part of the Victorian State Government’s “Big Housing Build”, the first round of funding from Homes Victoria saw a total of $738 million invested in 89 projects across the state. WHL was successful in winning funding for 309 new social housing dwellings spread over 13 projects, and work on the projects is progressing.

The dwellings are designed to house women and children in need of a safe place to call home, and will target women and children escaping domestic violence and older women, with 10% of the new homes allocated to Aboriginal Victorians. It’s anticipated that some very happy new tenants will be given the keys to their homes by the end of 2023.

On 20 November 2023 Women’s Housing Ltd’s Women’s Justice Diversion Program (WJDP) received the Award for ending homelessness among Diverse and over-Represented Groups from Council to Homeless Persons.

The WJDP was developed in response to reports of women being refused bail and release orders due to homelessness.  The Program is designed to extend housing support to homeless women on remand and reduce the likelihood of re-presentation to custody.  Congratulations, Sarah Sheppard and the WJDP Team!

Women’s Housing Ltd would like to congratulate the other winners of the day and recognise the incredible work the organisations and individuals are achieving, especially those with lived experience in homelessness.

For more information on the event click here.

On 25 October 2023, Anthony Cianflone MP, State Labor Member for Pascoe Vale, Coburg and parts of Brunswick West visited the Harvest Square public housing redevelopment site.  Women’s Housing Ltd will be managing 111 units on the site as part of an agreement with Homes Victoria.  In addition Women’s Housing Ltd will purchase 8 units from AV Jennings taking the total number of dwellings to 119.   Anthony Cianflone MP continues to show his support for Women’s Housing Ltd and the development of social and community housing for women in Victorian Parliament.

The Soup Angel was created in March 2020 during the first COVID lockdown in Melbourne to provide home cooked, healthy and nutritious soups to the elderly and others in need.  The Soup Angel has now grown to over 50 volunteers that deliver over 130 bowls of soup every fortnight to Melbourne and regional Victorian communities. 

Women’s Housing Ltd would like to thank The Soup Angel for providing donated goods to many of our renters!

Staff at Women’s Housing Ltd put their runners on and walked to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as part of NAIDOC Week.