An additional 26 emergency beds for the homeless have opened in the city, following the Malinauskas Labor Government’s investment in a project helping rough sleepers prepare for independent living.

Not-for-profit Carrington Cottages has opened ‘Jordan Place’, a new 26-bed medium term accommodation facility in the heart of the city to provide up to 30 tenants stable and secure housing.

The State Government has provided $1.2 million (50 per cent of purchase price) to help buy the new property, a former backpacker hostel, on Carrington Street.

The remaining funds have been generously donated by a benefactor, who wishes to remain anonymous. There are already seven tenants in the new accommodation, and this will increase to about 30 over the coming weeks as the fit-out is completed.

Carrington Cottages already provides 80 rooms for people who have been sleeping rough and facilitates a range of support from case workers, primarily from the Towards Home Alliance.

This investment takes the total well past 100. Carrington Cottages also work with other specialist agencies to provide advice and support for tenants relating to drug and alcohol abuse, mental health and employment.

Tenants generally stay for between three and nine months as they prepare themselves to live independently.

That means around fifty residents per year would move on to be replaced by another fifty rough sleepers.

A refit currently underway will upgrade the building, including its kitchen and bathroom facilities. Jordan Place offers a mix of rooms catering to singles and couples.

Quotes

Quotes attributable to Premier Peter Malinauskas

Addressing homelessness requires more than giving people a roof. It’s also about connecting people with the right services to help them rebuild and work towards living independently.

We know that having a secure roof and great wrap around services for a space of time, gives people the time they really need to get back on their feet. Carrington Cottages is one of those great success stories making a real difference and supporting rough sleepers not only to move into secure accommodation, but to stay there.

Attributable to Nat Cook

We are thrilled to be able to help with this purchase and provide more safe and secure housing for people who really need a hand to get back on their feet.

Accommodation like this is so important as we attempt to help people break the cycle of homelessness and rough sleeping.

The experience of living in a place like this, and the support available through it, is invaluable.

Attributable to Carrington Cottages CEO Karen Aistrope

In the past year Carrington Cottages and our support partners have helped more than one hundred former rough sleeper tenants move to independent living.

After a period living with us our tenants have a proven track record of paying rent, have demonstrated that they can live harmoniously with others and are ready to take on a place of their own.

We chose to name the accommodation ‘Jordan Place’ as a very subtle way to say thank you to our benefactor.