Five new houses will be built in Echuca for First Nations people.
Five new homes will be built in Echuca for First Nations people.
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The social housing homes are among 348 new homes to be built in Victoria as part of a $153 million investment announced by the Victorian Government as part of its Big Housing Build.
More than 230 of the homes will be built in regional Victoria, with Greater Shepparton receiving the highest number for any area — with 58 new homes to be built across 13 different projects.
Other regions to receive large numbers of new homes include 36 in East Gippsland, 29 in Wodonga, 28 in Greater Geelong and 24 in Ballarat.
The funding supports self-determination and builds economic strength through partnerships with Aboriginal organisations, who will design, deliver and manage the homes.
In Echuca, the new homes will be delivered by Aboriginal Housing Victoria.
The funding for this program builds on existing initiatives to support the implementation of the Victorian Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Framework — Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort, Every Aboriginal person has a home – which sets out how to improve Aboriginal housing outcomes in a generation.
Aboriginal Housing Victoria chief executive and Victorian Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Forum chair Darren Smith said safe, secure and sustainable housing was the foundation for better lives and stronger communities.
A map of where the new houses will be.
“This investment is a much-needed boost to housing supply across Victoria — particularly in regional areas where lack of access to culturally appropriate housing is deeply felt,” he said.
“It means more families can stay connected to Country, culture and community, whilst building the capacity of the Aboriginal housing sector to meet the needs of a growing population.
Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes has also welcomed the build.
“We’re building more social homes for Aboriginal Victorians across northern Victoria — including five in Echuca — so more families have a safe and secure place to call home,” she said.
Victorian Housing and Building Minister Harriet Shing said by working closely with First Nations housing organisations, the government was “making sure homes that get built for Aboriginal Victorians are designed and managed in a way that reflects the needs of their communities”.
Victorian Treaty and First Peoples Minister Natalie Hutchins said the investment would help ensure more Aboriginal Victorians had access to safe, secure and culturally appropriate housing that was “designed and delivered by organisations that know their communities best”.
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