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The My Home Project is an estate that will soon house 18 women aged over 55 and is being touted as a model solution to the nation’s homelessness crisis. It features inexpensive but stylish homes built on government land under a public-private partnership and will be administered by a church-run charity, St Patrick’s Community Support Centre.
The houses were designed by architect Michelle Blakeley through her My Home Housing initiative, which is keen to extend the project throughout Western Australia. The solar-powered homes, which will operate under the Passiv Haus ultra-low-energy concept, were prefabricated by Offsite Constructions, a company that specialises in creating affordable and sustainable flatpack buildings.
The project was made possible by the donation of money, materials and labour, and the participation of charities and community organisations including Rotary, the Soroptomists, Catholic Women’s League, Corporate Australia, Minderoo, Sisters of St John of God, and LotteryWest.
The West Australian reports that the tenants, who as women over 55 are members of the fastest growing group of homeless people in the country, will pay a quarter of their Newstart allowances in rent for their own 30sqm single-bedroom home with a 10sqm balcony.
While it is a significant contribution to homelessness, this initiative represents a small, local response to a growing crisis, with hundreds of thousands of people believed to be without permanent accommodation.
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