General News
28 September, 2024
New social housing project opens doors
Community housing provider Haven Home Safe has unveiled 25 completed modular homes in Horsham that are now ready for residents to move in.
Designed and constructed by build group ARKit, the project includes three one-bedroom and 22 two-bedroom prefabricated homes.
They were first constructed in Sunshine before each was transported to North Horsham in three separate parts.
Haven Home Safe chief operations officer Vanessa Brotto said expressions of interest for the properties were now open.
"We are looking at bringing people in from the local community in Horsham - people who are eligible for or on the Victorian Housing Register," Ms Brotto said.
"Where possible, we will be working with Uniting Care and the Salvation Army to make sure we have people in this space who are really tied to the community and have great links to the community.
"We're hoping that very soon this will become a very busy and a very exciting place with lots of happy people who will be able to call the place home."
Haven Home Safe contributed $2.8 million towards the project, with Homes Victoria also contributing $7.3 million as part of the Big Housing Build.
"The one thing I really love about it is how light and bright they are," Ms Brotto said.
"There's plenty of space for children to play and for people to really connect with nature and their neighbours in a way that they wish."
The homes are equipped with individual rainwater tanks, electric appliances and a heat-pump hot-water service.
Horsham Rural City Council mayor Robyn Gulline said the project was the first planning application council considered at the beginning of its term in 2020.
"It was the very first meeting and that was welcome to council," Cr Gulline said.
"I'm so excited to see, as this council term comes to an end, our community is now going to be getting the benefit of this.”
Horsham District has 259 priority applicants on the Victorian Housing register as of June 30, according to Homes Victoria.