July 5th, 2025Help for homeless
Safe Place Homes, a co-operative association started in 2017 by Daylesford’s David Hall, pictured below, wants to help solve hidden homelessness with its latest “infill project”.
Spokespeople Mary-Faeth Chenery, pictured above, and Peter Duncan, right, said Hepburn Shire Council’s recent Housing Strategy documented an unmet need for 300-plus affordable homes.
The pilot project aims to demonstrate how landowners can make a huge difference for someone needing affordable housing while also improving the value of their own properties.
All financial aspects of establishing the dwelling will be managed by Safe Place Homes, and may include initial purchase via a mortgage, or land lease arrangements with the owner – with the total cost around the $150,000 to $200,000 mark.
A tenancy manager will help identify suitable tenants who will probably be older women in need of affordable housing, or other suitable tenants.
The tenant then pays rent, covering the mortgage interest and utilities, and the landowner commits to renting the unit for 10 years.
“The rules around second dwellings changed recently and so we have decided to focus on a single project this year of infill housing,” Ms Chenery said.
“We have visited two sites so far of people who are open to considering a second dwelling on their land and we hope to hear from other landowners.
“We’re also trying to find a local modular builder or some form of inexpensive, sustainable building that we can do to fit within our budget.
“Hopefully once the model is set up and we’ve got the contracts it will be fairly straightforward and then we can document the first one and show how well it’s working.”
Ms Chenery said the organisation works with community housing providers who then recommend one or two people with the homeowner then able to interview them as well, to ensure they are a suitable match.
“We’ve been talking with the Hepburn Shire’s housing officer and the planners about making this speedier than usual. There is a 10-day approval process if you fit the criteria for it, and we’re hoping to massage this one so that it does.”
Ms Chenery said she was unaware of any similar projects in Victoria and hoped this would become a model for other regions.
“Whatever we learn, we share,” she said. “We certainly hope to pull this off within 12 months and we are three or four months into the project. So hopefully by the end of the year.”
Mr Duncan said the removal of the need for planning permission for a second small dwelling had allowed for the project to proceed.
“We would deal with all of the building permits, in discussion with the owner, and owner would help with the design work.”
Mr Duncan said it was hoped the mortgage would be repaid withing 10 years but if not, Safe Place Homes would take care of any deficit, through charitable contributions.
The rent, or mortgage repayments, would be capped at the affordable housing definition of 30 per cent of disposal income.
Mr Duncan said he was unaware of the project being carried out anywhere else in the state “but if the pilot proves successful, you can be quite sure we’ll be trying to publicise it around the state”.
Link: www.safeplacehepburn.org
Words: Donna Kelly
