Rotary, Accordwest and Just Home Margaret River in social housing project partnership

Community groups are coming together in a project to offer much-needed homes for people at risk of homelessness. Margaret River Rotary says it will be ready to start serious fundraising for the project on Clarke Road in November in a partnership with housing advocacy group Just Home Margaret River and Accordwest. Project spokesman Charles Johnson said the site lease would be sought from the State Government, which would also be approached for funding to help the grassroots initiative. Mr Johnson said he had received good support from South West MLC Jackie Jarvis so far and many businesses had offered labour or cost-neutral supplies. “The lease would involve the Department of Communities and Accordwest,” he told the Times. “Accordwest is preparing a business case that would be reviewed by the Department and Housing Minister John Carey.” Mr Johnson said research by Just Home showed there was an urgent need for more permanent low-cost housing to enable people experiencing homelessness to get back on their feet and establish a decent quality of life. As part of the project 10 units would be developed, including the restoration of old barracks for housing or as a shared facility. The project is designed in two stages, with the first focused on five one-bedroom units and the barracks. Three of the remaining five units were envisioned as two-bedroom units. The project carries considerable costs but Rotary would make a cash contribution while also mobilising its membership in managing the construction project. Builder Gordon Temby would oversee the project and concept plans were provided by Willcox & Associates architects. Mr Johnson said each unit would cost about $130,000 plus site works. “We are hoping that the corporate sector will fund other units and that other groups will come on board as well as community fundraising for a unit,” he said. “What we are finding is that there is a lot of community and business goodwill and offers of support in kind or at cost.” Just Home Margaret River program manager Alex Hughes said he was “thrilled” at the partnership which “will result in an increase of homes on the ground”. “The most pertinent issue at the moment is the securing of the lease,” he said. “Once the lease is secured, we will be calling out to the community to give them an opportunity to really make a difference.” Mr Carey said he was yet to receive a project proposal.