‘Pop-up’ homeless housing centre keeps women safe

POP-up housing for the homeless has been trialled for the first time in Victoria after a vacant aged-care facility was converted into accommodation for women — and backers now hope the concept will be rolled out more broadly.

POP-up housing for the homeless has been trialled for the first time in Victoria, with backers hoping the concept will be rolled out more broadly.

A vacant aged-care facility in South Melbourne has been converted into accommodation for women aged 55-plus who have hit hard times.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data shows there was a 17 per cent rise in the number of women in that age group seeking homelessness services in 2015-16.

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Maryanne Van Arkadie was not able to rent a unit in Melbourne after returning from a 20-year stay in Europe in April. “I’ve got health issues, ­financial issues, family issues — you name it, I’ve got it,” she said.

She approached YWCA Victoria and was given refuge in the new pop-up housing ­facility, Lakehouse.

“It’s a wonderful centre, it keeps me going, otherwise I don’t know where I’d be,” Ms Van Arkadie said.

Maryanne van Arkadie is a resident at Melbourne’s first pop-up housing shelter for women. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Lakehouse will be officially launched today by Victorian Governor Linda Dessau.

It came about after Port Phillip Council asked aged- care provider CaSPA Care to make available a property that is currently vacant but will be redeveloped in a few years.

The concept is the brainchild of veteran property development executive Robert Pradolin, a tireless advocate for the private sector to help provide affordable housing for the vulnerable.

“Housing for all Australians, rich or poor, is fundamental to Australia’s long-term economic prosperity,” Mr Pradolin said.

Port Phillip Mayor Bernadene Voss congratulated CaSPA and YWCA for making Lakehouse a success.

“We hope it will inspire other councils, community agencies, private organisations and governments to recognise the huge opportunities offered by using temporarily vacant buildings as a rapid response to alleviating homelessness,” she said.

Maryanne van Arkadie says she would be lost if she had not found accommodation at the Lakehouse in South Melbourne. Picture: Nicole Garmston

State Housing Minister Martin Foley said the government was proud to be a key partner in this project through a Housing Department grant.

“This innovative partnership … will help some of Victoria’s most vulnerable and at-risk people, and deliver them a pathway out of homelessness,” he said.

YWCA direction of national housing Jan Berriman said many older women were finding themselves homeless for the first time in their lives. “The scale of the problem is more evident as our housing services turn away nearly 87 per cent of our applicants — these statistics still shock me,” she said.

CaSPA board chairman Richard Gates said his organisation was happy to provide the property while its redevelopment was still in the planning phase.

The project also received funding from the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation and more than 15 local businesses, including Metricon and the Guest Group.

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