Cottage Homes CEO Ben Sarre recently attended the Fleurieu Community Foundation’s annual Homelessness Awareness Forum at the Port Elliot Bowling Club.
The forum focussed on the need for more affordable housing and greater support for people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness on the Fleurieu.
Ben joined over 70 community members and representatives from local organisations to hear from people working across the region about what homelessness looks like on the Fleurieu and the challenges facing local people.
As part of the panel, Ben spoke about a growing area of concern for Cottage Homes: older people struggling to find secure, long-term rental housing they can afford.
For people relying on the Age Pension, limited affordable rental options can leave them particularly vulnerable to housing insecurity and homelessness.
It is an issue Cottage Homes is working to address through its first regional housing development at Yankalilla.
Following the need identified by the local community, Cottage Homes is developing 14 new one-bedroom homes for Age Pensioners on land leased from Club Fleurieu. The homes will provide long-term rental accommodation, with rent based on what is affordable for someone living on the Age Pension.
Cottage Homes CEO Ben Sarre said the forum was an important opportunity for organisations and community members to come together around an issue that requires a collaborative response.
“Homelessness can look very different from person to person, and that includes older people who may have spent their lives renting but suddenly find there are very few options they can afford,” Ben said.
“We know there is a shortage of affordable, long-term rental housing on the Fleurieu, particularly for older people. Our Yankalilla development is one way Cottage Homes can be part of the solution and help more people remain within their local community as they age.”
Ben was joined at the forum by speakers from the Fleurieu Community Foundation, Whalers Peninsula Community Association, The Salvation Army, South Coast Christian Community Care and Junction Australia, who shared their experiences supporting people experiencing homelessness and financial stress across the region.
The evening also highlighted the important role of local organisations and community support. Thanks to the generosity of the community, the Fleurieu Community Foundation distributed $15,000 in grants to local organisations working on the frontline, particularly to help fill funding gaps around emergency responses to homelessness.
For Cottage Homes, the conversations reinforced the importance of increasing the supply of affordable housing alongside the work being done by local support services.
The Yankalilla development will be Cottage Homes’ first housing community outside metropolitan Adelaide and will provide not only affordable homes but an opportunity for older people to remain independent and connected to their community.
With a growing number of older people on the Fleurieu at risk of homelessness and limited affordable, long-term rental housing available, Cottage Homes is proud to be working alongside the local community to help provide another part of the solution.
Pictured above L-R: Brad Butler, Chair of Fleurieu Community Foundation, Tammy Elvin, Manager Junction Australia Goolwa, Ben Sarre, Cottage Homes CEO, and Kate Simpson, panel facilitator.
