Vacant houses get a community renovation rescue for the needy

Home renovation shows may be all the rage on TV, but they have nothing on this community in Melbourne’s north which came together to transform four empty houses in West Heidelberg for single mums, refugees and the homeless.

Jeff Percy and Brother Neil Wilson inside one of the renovated Heidelberg West homes.

A community project to fix up four vacant homes in West Heidelberg will provide low-cost rentals for those in need.

Renovation work on three of the houses on Liberty Parade has been completed, with plans to open them up to 14 people on benefits with a rent of just one quarter of their Centrelink payment.

The homes neighbour an 80-flat housing estate site, which Banyule Council last year approved to be pulled down and turned into four, 10-storey public housing blocks.

Refusing to live next to the mammoth development, the owners of four houses sold them to the council, but they have since been left vacant as no-one has taken up the construction tender.

The finished and liveable bathroom in the renovation rescue house in Heidelberg West

The lease was transferred by the council to Olympic Adult Education and community worker Brother Harry Prout last year, who, along with 60 volunteers, worked for 10 months to make the houses liveable.

West Heidelberg Community Hub engagement officer Bronson Ford said the houses would help combat homelessness for some.

“It gives people the living stability to be able to deal with the barriers they’re going through,” Mr Ford said.

Neil Wilson co-ordinated the amenities for the project and said it had been rewarding to see the amount of people who chipped in.

“It wasn’t easy, even when we first started we got vandalised that night,” Mr Wilson said.

Crooks had stolen corrugated iron roof sheets, air conditioners and copper wiring, but the reno team have hopes that once all houses are occupied, the damage will stop completely.

The houses will provide homes for single mums, refugees and homeless people.

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“Ideally these people will now have a rental history and be able to get into the private rental market,” said Mr Wilson.

Philanthropists Irene and Robert Gilbert donated $40,000 to the project and Bill Anderson of Transbuild helped install the Kaboodle kitchens. Hive Property Services also donated white goods, tapware and light fittings.

Bayule Mayor Wayne Phillips said two year leases had been offered.