The latest news from WPI
WPI Update March 2021
We are grateful that many of the restrictions we faced during the most recent COVID19 outbreak, have now been removed and life seems to be approaching a COVID normal. This is certainly good news for our tenants, many of whom had a very challenging 2020. It is also good news for the builders and developers that we are working with to deliver much needed safe and affordable homes for vulnerable women and their children.
In the lead up to Easter, we would welcome a contribution, however large or small to our International Women's Day appeal, which has featured members of our team and the areas in which they would like you to join them in choosing to challenge gender inequality and women's housing insecurity.
WPI welcomes the significant and historic investment in social housing by the State Government of Victoria. We are looking forward to playing an active role in this very important program that will provide long term housing for low income and disadvantaged Victorians.
We are excited about the progress on developments in Brunswick and Bundoora where we have purchased apartments, and they are on track to be delivered as scheduled. Construction is also now well advanced on our older women's housing project pilot in Beaconsfield. These will be really lovely homes for older women.
We have also gained some new team members who help us deliver on our housing growth and philanthropy goals at a time when the need for secure and affordable homes has never been greater.
Please enjoy the Easter break and hope you are able to connect with others after being apart for so long.
Warm Regards
International Women's Day Appeal
In March, we have been celebrating International Women's Day (IWD) and the social, cultural and political achievements of women. This is always a special time at WPI, when we reaffirm our commitment to fight for equality and to end women's homelessness.
The IWD theme this year is #choosetochallenge.
WPI chooses to challenge women's housing insecurity every day. We do not accept that a secure and safe home for a woman is a privilege, rather than a right. We choose to challenge the inherent, financial disadvantage that women experience due to gender inequality at every age and stage of their lives, which directly impacts their access to secure and affordable housing. This IWD we are asking for your help. Will you choose to challenge and make a donation to help vulnerable women and children find secure homes?
The women behind WPI are striking the #choosetochallenge pose and letting you know what they individually challenge to help create permanent change for disadvantaged and vulnerable women. You can help us create a more inclusive and equitable world.
PS: Can you make your donation monthly? Just $10 a month would make an enormous difference to our capacity to help more women in need. Just select the "make this a monthly gift" option on the donation form.
Please contact joy@wpi.org.au if you are interested in other opportunities to support our work.
Older Women's Housing Project
There has been great progress on site at Beaconsfield with WPI’s Older Women's Housing Project really starting to take shape. With their distinctive rooflines and the high level window frames in, it gives a sense of the lovely light and treescapes that the windows will provide.
These beautiful homes, designed by Studio Bright, will provide an opportunity for women over 55 with modest savings (but not enough to buy a home of their own), to escape the private rental market and invest in secure and affordable housing. Older women are experiencing housing stress at record levels and this program can prevent women from reaching this point.
Email natasha@wpi.org.au if you'd like more info.
This innovative project has been made possible with generous support from Gandel Philanthropy, Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, Homes For Homes and The Mercy Foundation.
Lunar Apartments
The finishing touches are being put on our ten new apartments in the Lunar Polaris development in Bundoora.
We love the outlook from within the apartments and we can't wait for tenants to move in - this will happen within the next month!
With funding from the Victorian Government’s Social Housing Growth Fund, this mixture of one, two and three bedroom apartments will be wonderful homes for approximately 20 women and children.
Meet our new team members
We are thrilled that P. Joy Villalino has joined WPI as Fundraising and Partnerships Lead. Joy has more than 15 years of leadership experience in commercial and non-profit organisations in the U.S. and Australia and will engage funders and partners to help WPI create positive social change for women in need of stable and secure housing. If you are interested in partnering with WPI to help us make a difference, get in touch, joy@wpi.org.au
It is also great to have Natasha Liddell join us as Development Manager. Natasha will be focused on the successful achievement of WPI's housing development objectives. She will oversee new property acquisitions and all of our construction projects. With more than 15 years experience as a town planner, Natasha has extensive strategic and statutory planning and project management experience. Natasha has and will continue to work closely with designers, builders and planning authorities to achieve successful outcomes. Her experience covers a broad range of residential and commercial projects.
Nightingale Village
It was hard hat on for WPI's CEO, Jeanette Large, as she toured the Nightingale Village site in Brunswick With Minister for Housing, Richard Wynne, Jeremy McLeod from Nightingale, and Michael Lennon from Housing Choices Australia.
Great progress on the six building project and with support from the Victorian Government and Matrix Guild, we can't wait to make nine properties within the development affordable and sustainable homes for Victorian women and children in need.
The residents of Nightingale Village will have the beautiful Bulleke-Bek Park Bulleke-bek means Brunswick in Woi Wurrung language and is part of Moreland City Council's ‘A Park Close to Home’ initiative. There's grass for picnics, water play, swings, slides, BBQs, toilets, community gardens, and nature play. Just another great aspect of this fabulous development.
Property Initiatives Real Estate
Our social enterprise, Property Initiatives Real Estate has hit the ground running in 2021 with a range of exciting sales listings. They have recently sold properties in Dromana and Brunswick at auction with thrilling results and big crowds. They haves also recently sold two unique properties in Avoca, apartments in Brunswick, Fitzroy North and Travancore and have some great properties for sale in Coburg, Flemington and Ascot Vale. Visit the Property Initiatives Real Estate website, for more information
After a difficult year for real estate in 2020, the agency continues to grow its portfolio of properties under management, as well as expanding the sales and commercial sectors of the business.
Please remember that 100% of profits from Property Initiatives Real Estate goes directly to WPI – it really is the heart of real estate in Melbourne!
The team would welcome the opportunity to provide a ‘no obligation’ appraisal of your property if your are considering leasing or selling.
Similarly, if you are currently leasing your property with another real estate agency, we can easily arrange a transfer of the management across to Property Initiatives Real Estate. It really is as simple as signing a form and we will take care of the rest, on your behalf.
Do not hesitate to get in touch to discuss anything relating to property leasing and sales in all Melbourne areas – both residential and commercial. Call Rick Massese on 0425 836 608 or email him rick@pirea.com.au
