Tenants get full time jobs working on public housing renewal program

State-of-the-art public housing has opened in Preston, with more units on the way. And the project isn’t just giving tenants a home — thousands are scoring full-time work out of it too.

Aydarus Mohamed, Housing Minister Richard Wynne, Mohamed Ballo and Northcote state Labor MP Kat Theophanous celebrate the Stokes Penola opening.

The first stage of the $20 million Stokes Penola public housing is now open.

The state-of-the-art units have a seven-star energy rating and sustainability features including solar power and water harvesting.

When finished, the site will have 68 public housing units.

Housing Minister Richard Wynne said more than 1100 public housing tenants had found employment involving public housing.

The Public Tenant Employment Program gives tenants a pathway to work in areas such as construction, cleaning and administration.

Tenants Aydarus Mohamed and Mohamed Ballo both worked on the Stokes Penola development for commercial builder SJ Higgins and have stayed on as employees.

Mr Ballo said the program was an “amazing opportunity” and his work with SJ Higgins was challenging but he was “so happy” every day.

Meet Aydarus, Mohamed and Long. They have been hard at work helping to build 68 new public housing units in Preston so...

Posted by Kat Theophanous MP on Monday, 10 June 2019

Mr Wynne said the program empowered tenants to make their own lives better.

“This program has given so many people a chance to show what they are capable of when they might have struggled to get that break otherwise,” he said.

Northcote state Labor MP Kat Theophanous said the “fantastic” homes were much needed for the community.

The housing estate at Walker St, Northcote will be demolished and replaced with 96 mostly one and two-bedroom dwellings.

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