Last year was a big one for Pacific Link Housing, with the completion of a major affordable housing project on the Central Coast and a number of award wins.
The social housing provider celebrated the completion of the Adira Development at Woy Woy in December, providing housing security for older women who are facing the ongoing rental affordability and availability crisis.
The 12-unit mixed-tenancy complex includes a combination of social, affordable and private market rentals, specifically designed to be safe and secure for older women.
One of the new residents, Kay, moved into the apartments before Christmas and said it was a blessing to have a safe home after being through a difficult time in her previous, sub-standard, private market tenancy.
“I believe that everybody deserves a safe and secure home that is affordable and relevant to their circumstances, and I have found mine here at Adira,” she said.
“I am so grateful to the wonderful staff at Pacific Link Housing for the opportunity to live in such a beautiful property where I feel safe and secure.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks, were on hand for the official opening of the complex.
While on the Coast, the PM announced an increase to the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation’s (NHFIC) lending cap by $500M.
Wicks said the move would create even more opportunities for community housing providers such as Pacific Link Housing, which has received more than $11M in low-cost financing from NHFIC.
“I am pleased their latest development in Woy Woy will focus especially on getting older women into housing,” she said.
The Adira development attracted a $1.6M contribution through the NSW Government’s Community Housing Innovation Fund, which cemented the allocation of six units to women eligible for social housing.
The remaining units are a mix of affordable housing and private market rate rentals which were fully leased within a week of obtaining practical completion from the builders, Mars Building.
Pacific Link Housing’s social enterprise Real Estate Agency, Key2 Realty, had a huge response in leasing the rentals, with a one-bedroom unit receiving 75 applications and 1,896 views on realestate.com.
Pacific Link Housing Chairman Wal Edgell said the mixed tenancy model has proven successful in other projects completed by the organisation.
“The building’s name Adira is adopted from Hebrew meaning strong and powerful,” he said.
“It is a message to residents that Pacific Link Housing is here to support them on their journey to build capacity and create improved opportunities for their future.”
Pacific Link Housing also recently celebrated several award wins including a prestigious award for a mixed tenancy development recently completed.
The Property Council of Australia’s Innovation & Excellence Award for the best National Affordable Housing Development was received for Pacific Gateway, a 21-unit mixed tenancy complex built and owned by Pacific Link Housing in Glendale, Lake Macquarie.
CEO Ian Lynch said receiving the award demonstrated the company is delivering quality, mixed tenancy developments, that are recognised at a national level.
Three more award wins were celebrated by Pacific Link Housing including the Australasian Housing Institute’s Response to COVID-19 NSW Award and Executive Excellence NSW Award for CEO, Ian Lynch.
The PowerHousing Australia National Awards also recognised the efforts of Pacific Link Housing’s Together Home Program Manager, Nicole Harvey, who was runner up in the Outstanding Achievement category.
Source:
Media release, Jan 11
Pacific Link Housing