Pre-fab collab helps homeless
Tiny homes making a big difference
A PROJECT involving the design and construction of new, environmentally friendly prefabricated homes may offer a solution to the homelessness issue in the Geelong region, where hundreds of people are at risk of experiencing homelessness every night.
In a first-of-its-kind project, Geelong manufacturer FormFlow constructed seven one-bedroom units at Samaritan House in Moolap to provide local men with transitional housing for three to six months.
FormFlow and Samaritan House Geelong teamed up with Deakin University academics and students to design the tiny homes to create a microvillage that prioritises social inclusion, while reducing wastage of non-renewable building materials.
The seven independent living units were constructed off-site and all were transported and assembled in just two and a half days.
The project was funded through a combination of private benefactors, including founding Samaritan House board members, charitable foundations, community service organisations, Regional Development Victoria and the City of Greater Geelong.
The collaboration has enabled Samaritan House Geelong to increase accommodation on the site from 13 to 20 men, and to support their transition to longer-term social housing.
Researchers from Deakin’s HOME Research Hub are now working directly with residents, evaluating how the independent living units improve the transition process for men experiencing homelessness, and if the concept can be applied to other groups experiencing homelessness.
HOME director Professor Richard Tucker said the project would change the housing landscape for disadvantaged communities in Victoria.
“HOME aims to make housing for people experiencing homelessness accessible in our state,” Professor Tucker said.
“We’re really lucky, thanks to our strong relationships with our collaborators, to have a chance to design housing for the people who need it the most.
“There is also potential for this prefab housing design to provide solutions for other disadvantaged communities, including disaster-affected regions, and people living with a disability.”
Samaritan House Geelong board member Brian Sherwell said the project was a great support for men needing housing in the region.
“It’s a great launching pad for (Geelong men experiencing homelessness) to experience independent living. It’s been well received,” Mr Sherwell said.
The HOME Research Hub project, dubbed From Microvillage to Transitional Housing for Homeless Men, was named a finalist in the Outstanding Engagement for Research Impact category at last week’s Engagement Australia 2022 Excellence Awards.
The coveted awards recognise leaders in research and innovation, leadership, science engagement and school science and celebrate the university projects that demonstrate far-reaching impact and innovation in both Australian and New Zealand economies and communities.