Mind Australia and The Haven Foundation will build a new 12-unit residence in Torquay, Victoria, for people living with mental health and wellbeing challenges.
The development – part of the Homes Victoria $5.3 billion Big Housing Build – will provide high quality, long-term housing with support for 12 people from the Surf Coast community so that they can work on their mental health recovery and live life to the fullest.
Haven residences feature one-bedroom self-contained homes with a main bedroom, built-in wardrobe, bathroom, kitchen and eating area, European laundry, lounge room and outdoor courtyard or balcony within a multi-unit property.
Haven Torquay will also feature shared indoor and community living and lounge areas, kitchen, meeting spaces and overnight facilities on-site for Mind Australia’s around-the-clock specialist mental health support staff.
This integrated social housing and support service is a partnership between Mind and community housing provider The Haven Foundation – a subsidiary of Mind.
Mind CEO Gill Callister said Haven residences enable people experiencing mental health and wellbeing challenges to live with independence.
“Mind and The Haven Foundation are very proud of the six residences we have already established in different towns and cities across Victoria, with another nine under construction,” Ms Callister said.
“The provide essential safe and caring support for people in the local community who can otherwise struggle to manage their mental health and reach their full potential.
“We are grateful to the Victorian government for its commitment to this model of housing with support. It is enabling people in communities across Victoria to get the support they need to live with independence and purpose.”
There are currently six Haven residences in Victoria located in Frankston, South Yarra, Highton, Epping, Laverton and Mooroopna.
A further five are currently being built in Drouin, Ballarat, North Bendigo, Seymour and Pakenham (applications for these residences are now open). Eight more residences in Kilmore, Colac, Frankston, Corio, Sunbury, Wodonga, Wonthaggi and Traralgon were also announced by the Victorian government in June 2023.
Planning is underway for the first Haven residence in South Australia and the New South Wales Labor government has also committed to building the first three Haven residences in the state – with the first to be built on the Central Coast.