Positive mental health outlook for social housing project that supports Canberra women
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Joint media release with ACT Shelter
The Mental Health Community Coalition of the ACT (MHCC ACT) together with member organisation ACT Shelter congratulate and support YWCA Canberra on their approval to build accommodation for vulnerable women at their Ainslie site.
Bec Cody, MHCC ACT CEO, states “The Mental Health Community Coalition ACT strongly supports this social housing project from YWCA and congratulates them on receiving approval for the go ahead.”
“Homelessness and mental health are strongly interrelated, and prioritisation of housing for vulnerable groups leads to improved wellbeing in as little as one month.”
The 10 units the YWCA will construct are targeted for older women or those fleeing domestic violence, and through a tender process hopes are for construction to start later in 2021.
“In December 2020, there were more than 1000 women in Canberra registered with specialist housing services, the majority of which were homeless or in housing crisis due to domestic or family violence” stated YWCA Chief Executive, Frances Crimmins.
Bec Cody states “reducing housing insecurity can go a long way in supporting improved outcomes in mental health recovery, which is often evident in the trauma we see as part of these instances.”
ACT Shelter Chief Executive Officer, Travis Gilbert said the project would add much needed affordable rental supply to the inner north. “ACT Shelter welcomes the approval of 10 units of affordable housing in the garden suburb of Ainslie” Mr Gilbert said.
“With median area market rent in Canberra’s inner north exceeding the base rate of the age pension, it is critical that experienced housing providers like the YWCA are able to step in and deliver housing solutions for older women in Canberra to ensure they are afforded a dignified retirement”
Media Contact: Bec Cody, Chief Executive Officer
(02) 5104 7716, Bec.Cody@mhccact.org.au
Communications Officer: Alison Hall, (02) 5104 7711
MHCC ACT is the peak body for community-managed mental health services in the ACT. Find out more about MHCC ACT at www.mhccact.org.au.