YWCA Canberra welcomes the news today that our Development Application to build 10 quality homes in Ainslie for women experiencing housing crisis has been approved by the ACT planning authority.
This approval comes after a public consultation process with the local community. We are grateful to everyone who participated in good faith in these processes and who made representations in support of the project.
This is an exciting project that will make a tangible difference to the lives of older women and women escaping domestic and family violence.
Frances Crimmins, CEO of YWCA Canberra said that while the project makes a small contribution to closing the shortfall of 3,000 social housing dwellings in Canberra, the difference it will make to the lives of those women who will be future tenants will be enormous.
“As long-term provider of community housing in Canberra and a local charity with expertise working with women and their families, we are thrilled to be granted approval to proceed with this exciting project and find new ways to respond to housing crisis among women.”
“In December 2020, there were more than 1000 women in Canberra registered with Specialist Housing Services. The majority were homeless or in housing crisis due to domestic or family violence.”.
“We currently have women in our housing services who are in their 80s and 90s. No one wants to see anyone’s grandmother in such dire circumstances.”
“We know that Canberra is a generous city and that this project has a strong level of understanding and support among the community.”
“This is an excellent opportunity for us to use a block of land we own for the greater public good.”
“We look forward to working with the community in the months ahead as our build progresses.”
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Media contact: Zoya Patel, 0455 655 330, Zoya.Patel@ywca-canberra.org.au