The Victorian Government is ramping up delivery of the Big Housing Build across the state with the first allocation of funds to community housing projects – with more than $1 billion in projects to commence this year.

The Government is investing over $20 million in Ballarat delivering 89 new social housing homes across 9 projects creating more than 250 local jobs.

This investment includes funding for 25 homes in two Delacombe locations to be delivered in partnership with Centacare Housing Services. These properties will provide long term housing to support people on the Victorian Housing Register.

Other projects in Ballarat include:

• 16 homes in Redan delivered in partnership with The Haven Foundation
• 4 homes in Brown Hill delivered in partnership with Aboriginal Housing Victoria
• 18 homes in Canadian delivered in partnership with Community Housing (Vic) Ltd
• 14 homes in Canadian delivered in partnership with Haven, Home, Safe
• 12 homes in Mount Pleasant delivered in partnership with Haven, Home, Safe

Ballarat based housing organisation Centacare Housing Services will also deliver projects in Darley, Melton South, Warrnambool and Bacchus Marsh in additional to the two Delacombe projects. All projects are expected to commence in December 2021.

The projects are part of almost $740 million the Labor Government is investing in 89 community housing projects across regional and metropolitan areas.

This investment will deliver 2,352 homes across the state giving more Victorians the stability of a home while creating more than 9000 jobs – with shovels expected to be in the ground by the end of the year.

The homes will be made available to those in the most need of housing including people living with mental illness or disability, people escaping family violence, Victoria’s First Peoples and individuals experiencing homelessness.

The investment includes 62 new supported independent living homes for Victorians living with mental illness being built across four sites announced in June – including 16 new homes in partnership with the Haven Foundation in Redan.

The Government’s $5.3 billion Big Housing Build is delivering more than 12,000 new homes – boosting Victoria’s social housing supply by 10 per cent – while generating 10,000 jobs each year over the four year program.

The Big Housing Build is investing $1.25 billion in regional areas – ensuring the programs economic and social benefits are felt in communities across the state. A minimum of $80 million will be invested in the Ballarat area.

Quote attributable to Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison

“The $20 million investment into social housing across Ballarat provides desperately needed housing for our most vulnerable community members. As well as transforming lives, this investment will stimulate the local economy and create jobs. A great outcome for our community.”

Quote attributable to Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle

“This will see 89 new houses built locally, giving a roof over the head for those who need it most, and create 258 jobs right here in Ballarat – with construction expected to be underway this year.”

Quote attributable to CEO of Centacare Housing Services Ross Wheatland

“We are grateful to be a recipient of the Social Housing Growth Fund and are excited that a Ballarat based provider is able to deliver this opportunity to provide safe, secure and affordable homes to our community in Ballarat.”