Construction is officially complete on the Wolfdene Foundation’s first four specialist disability accommodation units, with the inaugural residents set to move in to their new homes in the coming days.
Located at Wolfdene’s ‘E>ST’ development in Cranbourne East, this milestone is the culmination of more than 3 years of hard work by the Wolfdene Foundation and disability service provider, Blairlogie Living and Learning.
“In 2017, I first met Carolyn (Blairlogie CEO) and her team and I was moved by their vision to supply much needed local disability housing for their clients,” said Wolfdene Managing Director, Michael Goldthorp.
“As a developer of land and housing in Victoria, I admire the positive role local organisations such as Blairlogie play in a creating a strong sense of community and it felt like a natural fit for Wolfdene to help make a difference,” he said.
Collectively, a strategy was developed for a social enterprise model which was formalised as ‘Project 28’, aimed at helping to address a national shortfall of 28,000 homes by delivering 28 SDA units in the City of Casey by 2028.
“Twenty-eight dwellings may seem like a drop in the ocean in the context of the national numbers, but the difference these homes will make to the lives of the residents and their families is immeasurable.
“To see the hard work of everyone involved come to fruition gives me an enormous sense of pride and we could not have done it without the generous financial support of our major partners; Blueways, Lojac, Arcadia Built, Swan Plumbing and the Mayors Walk for Disability,” Goldthorp said
There are thousands of Australians with disability who are forced to live in unsuitable homes because there are no alternative. Often that means accommodation where people are segregated from the broader community.
This includes those currently living at home with ageing parents, residing in hospitals and young people living in residential aged care facilities.
“On a daily basis we deal with parents who are wondering what is going to happen to their children once they’re gone. Parents in their 70’s and 80’s who have been the primary carers for their adult children suffering from a range of disabilities that require ongoing care,” said Blairlogie CEO, Carolyn Carr.
“The residents for the first four homes were actually selected at the very beginning of the project and they have been waiting patiently for the day they can move in.
“To know that day is nearly here is something I cannot even describe,” Carr said.
Planning is well underway for the next set of units to be delivered at Wolfdene’s ‘Brompton‘ community in Cranbourne South with construction to commence in early 2021.
