Andrew Leigh

I attended the opening of eight new social housing units in O'Connor this morning. The bottom four units will be occupied by people with mobility impairments, while most of the top four units will be single parent families. For some of the tenants, it's the first place they've ever had to call their own.

SENATOR THE HON MARK ARBIB

Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development

Minister for Sport

Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness

ANDREW LEIGH MP

Member for Fraser

MEDIA RELEASE

28 October 2011

EIGHT NEW SOCIAL HOUSING DWELLINGS IN CANBERRA

Vulnerable people in Canberra will benefit from a new social housing development opened today, supported with $1.6 million from the Australian Government.

Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness Mark Arbib and Member for Fraser Andrew Leigh today welcomed the opening of the new development in David Street, O’Connor, which will offer safe and secure homes for people in need.

“This development will provide a stable home for seniors, people with disabilities and people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness,” Dr Leigh said.

“It features eight two-bedroom units, four of which are Class C Adaptable, which means they are easily modified for tenants with a disability.

“The units incorporate six-star energy rating and environmental design principles such as an underground rain water tank and gas boosted solar hot water units.

“I would like to thank the ACT Government for their involvement in the development and management of this housing development.

“Through this development, we are helping to reduce homelessness, and we are giving vulnerable people in Canberra a better future.”

The development, worth $2.1 million in total, is partly funded through the Australian Government’s Social Housing Initiative, which is designed to assist low income Australians who are homeless or struggling in the private rental market.

The Australian Government’s $5.6 billion investment under the Social Housing Initiative represents the single largest investment in social housing ever undertaken by an Australian Government.

Senator Arbib welcomed the new development which will provide security to some of the vulnerable people in Canberra in need of a home.

“These wonderful new homes will give some of our most vulnerable a place to call home,” Senator Arbib said.

“Under the Social Housing Initiative, around 19,600 homes are being constructed across the nation and will be completed by June 2012 – over 16,400 of these have already been completed.

“In the ACT, the Australian and ACT Governments are working together to deliver 421 new homes – 419 of which have been completed.

“Through the Initiative, the Australian Government has supported more than 15,000 jobs nationally, and helped shield Australia from the recession that hit most other economies.”