Twenty six units have been approved for affordable housing in Katoomba’s Lurline and Waratah Streets.
The new eight-storey housing (two levels are basement parking) will be at 67-75 Waratah Street and 57-69 Lurline Street. Building is set to start later this year or early 2019, with an opening date in 2020
A spokeswoman for St Vincent de Paul, Felicity Moody, said there would be eight one-bedroom units and 18 two-bedroom units at the address, near the Clarendon Hotel and Allan Park.
“St Vincent de Paul Housing has received a development approval for the construction of a 26 unit social housing development comprising 8 x 1 bedroom and 18 x 2 bedroom apartments,” Ms Moody said.
“All units are to be used for social housing tenants aged 55 and over.”
She has been unable to clarify what rents would be charged.
The cost of the project is expected to be $16.7 million. It will be built just south of the heart of Katoomba –about 130m north west of the Katoomba Police station.
Currently the site contains no existing dwellings or associated structures and is currently being used as an unofficial car park.
“The design, incorporating two buildings separated by an internal courtyard over a basement car park, has been designed by architects, Melocco & Moore to follow the contours of the site. Special focus was placed on the conservation of existing trees and the adjacent park,” Ms Moody said.
Ms Moody said St Vincent de Paul Housing “intends to use the development to deliver services under NSW Government’s Social and Affordable Housing Fund (SAHF)”.
The project was approved by the Western Sydney Planning Panel on Monday July 23.
The move follows repeated comments publicly by St Vincent de Paul’s former National Council CEO Dr John Falzon on the increasing rate of homelessness.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) data by Homelessness Australia from 2017 has shown a significant increase in the numbers of young people and older women experiencing homelessness. Women and children escaping family violence is still the biggest driver of homelessness in the country.
Dr Falzon said: “It is painfully clear the rate of homelessness in Australia is rising with a nine per cent increase in the number of people seeking help from homelessness agencies over the 2015-16 financial year compared to the previous year.”
Dr Falzon said “there are 200,000 people on the waiting list for social housing and at the same time Australia has a shortfall of housing supply, estimated at over 500,000 rental dwellings, which are both affordable and available to the lowest income households.”
The 2011 Census statistics showed 105,000 people were homeless but the Society believes it underestimates the number because of couch surfing and those in inadequate or insecure housing.
“Housing costs are arguably the single biggest driver of poverty and disadvantage in Australia,” said Jack de Groot, CEO St Vincent de Paul Society NSW. Reports have revealed some low income households spend almost 70 per cent of their weekly income on rent.
The St Vincent de Paul Society in their Ache for Home report last year urged the federal government to establish a national plan for housing that includes a $10 billion Social and Affordable Housing Fund and for Commonwealth Rent Assistance to be increased and indexed properly, among many other practical recommendations.
