Head Start Homes Wins $1.3M Tender To Address Housing affordability
Head Start Homes (HSH) has been selected by Wollongong Council to address the issue of affordable housing in the city.
The $1.3million tender will create a new Wollongong Recycling Home Ownership Program (WRHOP), which will provide a pathway for low to moderate-income households in the city to purchase their own home without the need for a deposit or mortgage insurance.
The decision followed a competitive tender process in November 2021, where the council called upon community housing providers to propose new and innovative ways of delivering affordable housing and service delivery options.
Stephen Woodlands, HSH founder and managing director, said the funds would provide solutions to home-ownership barriers faced by tenants living in the Wollongong Local Government Area.
“Head Start Homes is thrilled to have won this tender because it means that we will be able to help more single mums, First Nations Peoples and other low to moderate-income renters buy their own home without a deposit”.
"This life-changing, practical support will, in turn, help to free up more affordable rental housing for other families in need, which means the community benefit flows on,” he said.
Vanessa Chan, HSH chair, said the program aligned with their goal to create innovative new pathways to housing security for disadvantaged families.
"We have been able to establish home ownership programs across New South Wales, South Australia, and Queensland by creating dynamic partnerships with councils, community housing providers, government agencies, large corporations, and local businesses,” she said.
“Our partnership with Wollongong Council is a new way of working to address this fundamental community issue."
With a focus on the southern suburbs, the tender will give life-changing, practical support to families who are finding their path to independence in Wollongong. The program will lead to important positive social outcomes within the Wollongong LGA and will also have a demonstrable positive impact on the local economy.
Funding is provided through the Affordable Housing Program, an initiative that came about through a Commonwealth grant under the Building Better Regional Cities program to Wollongong City Council.
Through the funding, the council has already awarded funding to our partner the Illawarra Community Housing Trust for the delivery of 17 affordable dwellings across two sites in Wollongong and Dapto.
Wollongong City Lord Mayor, Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM, said: “This is a way that the council can play a small role in the much larger issue of access to affordable housing.
Wollongong City Lord Mayor, Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM
“Each level of government has a role to play to support our community when it comes to affordable living options, but council doesn’t build housing - that’s the domain of other agencies.
“Affordable housing stock is a space where we can play a small part in this significant societal challenge. What I’m most excited about is the fact that this program will provide affordable housing options for individuals and families who might otherwise miss out.’’
Watch this space as we work with Wollongong City, the Housing Trust. St.George Bank, the Aboriginal Housing Office and our other valued partners to create more safe and stable homes in the Illawarra region.
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