Date: 2009-11-09
Community Housing Limited (CHL) has been recognised as the housing organisation responsible for designing, developing, and managing a landmark affordable housing project in Ferntree Gully, in the City of Knox. The project is being funded by the Australian government’s Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan- Social Housing Initiative, and will be delivered in partnership with the Victorian Government.
CHL will construct 79 quality-built dwellings and a tenancy management facility at the site of the former Ferntree Gully Primary School, which was closed four years ago. The site contains a heritage listed building that will be restored and refurbished as an on-site tenancy management office. The project is planned to be completed by December 2010.
The City of Knox currently has an undersupply of affordable housing, resulting in many local people living in unaffordable private rentals. The closure of the primary school left the site vacant and derelict, and has been identified as an ideal location to grow the number of affordable houses in the Knox community.
“This is a landmark project in recent times for affordable housing in Victoria. CHL has an excellent track record in housing development and management with more than 350 properties constructed to date, and more than 2000 properties in its management portfolio across Australia,” says Steve Bevington, CHL’s Managing Director.
“This project will be an outstanding resource for the Knox community, and will provide quality living at an affordable rate for many people in Knox who are currently stuck in unaffordable and stressful private rentals. Upon completion of the project, CHL will manage these properties and ensure that an appropriate mix of tenants will be offered housing, many of who will have links to the local community”, says Mr. Bevington.
Affordable housing is either capped at 30% of a tenant’s income or provided at a discounted rental of less than 75% of the market rate. CHL successfully assisted more than 18,000 people in 2008/09 to maintain their existing housing or to secure new accommodation. CHL’s Design and Construction division employs more than 300 subcontractors in the construction process, creating employment opportunities throughout Victoria.
CHL has established a Ferntree Gully Project Information Line for any resident wanting to find out more detail in regard to this development: Contact Paul on 9856 0041.
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Community Housing Limited (CHL) is a national and international provider of affordable housing that was founded in 1994. Its mission is ‘to provide affordable and sustainable housing for all’. CHL is a registered Housing organisation in Victoria and an approved growth provider in NSW, Tasmania, WA and SA.
CHL is a vertically integrated operation that manages the entire housing lifecycle. This includes securing funding, locating suitable land, project managing, designing and constructing, then managing the tenancy for the long term which includes collecting rents and maintaining the property.
By the end of 2009-10 financial year, CHL will have more than 3000 properties in its national portfolio.
For more information on this project or on CHL, contact:
Preeti Daga
Media and Communications Coordinator
Community Housing Limited
t 03 9856 0021
e preeti.daga@chl.org.au
www.chl.org.au.