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Victoria’s Barry Plant Group is helping domestic violence victims with its support of Women’s Property Initiatives, a non-profit organisation that assists at-risk women and children.
Women’s Property Initiatives (WPI) provides affordable, long-term housing for women and children experiencing social disadvantage, often as a result of domestic violence.
Barry Plant CEO Mike McCarthy says homelessness is a burgeoning crisis in Victoria and across Australia, and women are especially vulnerable.
“The availability of decent, low-cost rental accommodation is a growing concern in Victoria and women are at the greatest risk of homelessness due to a number of well-publicised social factors,” Mr McCarthy said.
“Supporting an organisation that provides safe, affordable housing for at-risk women and their children is a tangible way in which we can help combat the disadvantage that vulnerable people in our society often suffer.”
WPI builds properties to provide secure and affordable housing for at-risk women and their children. Rent is charged at 30 per cent of the household income and never exceeds 75 per cent of market value.
WPI CEO Jeanette Large, who is also principal of Property Initiatives Real Estate, says affordable, appropriate and secure housing is a basic need and right.
“Affordable housing is the foundation for building a better life and is a key factor in the reduction of ‘next generation’ poverty,” Ms Large said.
WPI is funded primarily by philanthropic grants, but it also launched Property Initiatives Real Estate in April 2015 in a bid to become more self-sustaining.
Property Initiatives Real Estate is Australia’s first full service, social enterprise real estate agency providing residential sales and property management services across inner Melbourne. All profits go towards WPI to build homes for at-risk women and children.
Barry Plant is providing support to the Property Initiatives Real Estate property management team and taking referrals for home sales, using its network and professional skills to secure best price efficiencies.
It is also working with WPI to help with additional income streams from Barry Plant’s finance arm, Chapter Financial Services, and the industry-owned connections business, YourPorter.
Independent research, conducted by Social Ventures Australia for WPI, shows that the longer women and children have stable and secure affordable housing, the more value is created for them and for the wider community.
Sustainable social and economic benefits are numerous, including government and taxpayer savings. Secure housing also leads to reduced prison re-entry, improved mental health and academic performance of children, a return to study and increased employment.
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