The Haven Foundation: social housing and support - Haven Geelong

The Haven Foundation, social housing and support, offers people their own home in a unique community environment.    

Haven residences are built for people living with mental health challenges who want somewhere to live where they can access specialist mental health support.    

Each residence has 12-16 fully self-contained units, along with communal recreational and lounge areas, kitchen, meeting spaces and facilities for Mind’s support staff. Residents have privacy when they want it within a friendly, supportive community environment.   

Each unit has a main bedroom with built-in wardrobe, bathroom, kitchen and eating area, European laundry, lounge room and outdoor courtyard or balcony. 

The Haven residences are located in residential areas, close to public transport, local shops and other amenities. Tenancy is managed by The Haven Foundation. 

Applications are invited from people who:  

• are experiencing mental health challenges 
• are aged between 18-64 years of age   
• have the financial means to pay for rent and utilities  
• have an NDIS package to fund housing support  
• are willing to sign a residential tenancy agreement with The Haven Foundation   
• are on or eligible for the Victorian Housing Register.  

About the Haven residence 

Haven Geelong, is located in Melbourne’s south-west in the City of Greater Geelong, and features 16 one-bedroom units set in beautifully landscaped grounds, providing a relaxing environment to focus on personal goals while feeling at home. 

Each unit features a main bedroom with built-in wardrobe, bathroom, kitchen and eating area, European laundry, lounge room and outdoor courtyard or balcony. 

The residence, which opened in July 2021, also features communal recreational and lounge areas, kitchen, meeting spaces and on-site overnight facilities for Mind’s mental health staff. Haven Geelong is also close to public transport, local shops and other amenities. Tenancy is managed by The Haven Foundation. 

Do I need an NDIS package to live in a Haven residence? 

Residents typically use NDIS packages to fund their support, which is provided by qualified and expert Mind Australia staff. They can help residents with activities for daily living, building social connections and other identified goals.

At a Haven residence, people have the option to use their NDIS funding collectively with fellow residents to get the most out of their NDIS plans. This means that assistance with tasks such as shopping, cooking, budgeting and getting together as a community can be shared – which benefits everyone at the Haven residence.   

How do I register my interest for Haven residences? 

Find out if Haven residences are right for you or your loved one: Contact us via Mind Connect or phone 1300 286 463   

Subscribe to our Housing and support newsletter here to keep up to date on housing vacancies at Mind Australia. 

If you’re ready to apply now, click here for the application form.

Download the Haven Geelong flyer (PDF 1.6 MB).

Why choose Mind for Housing and support services? 

We have been providing mental health and wellbeing support to people, and their families, friends and carers, for nearly 50 years. Every individual's journey to a life of meaning and purpose is unique, which is why our services are flexible and offer genuine choice and control.  

We work with residents and their families, friends and carers to build a high quality, program of support tailored to their unique needs and NDIS plan goals. Our qualified staff work in partnership with residents and their family, friends and carers to strengthen personal skills and build independence. 

We promote a sense of community in our housing services to encourage residents to share and support each other, including taking part in group activities. 

Some of our Housing staff are peer workers – people with lived experience of mental ill-health. Our peer workers lead skills-based peer learning workshops with residents among other work. We are a leading employer of people with lived experience, recognising their unique ability to connect with and motivate clients and support personal goals.  

Find out more about Mind’s other Housing and support services.      

What do our Haven residents say? 

“The wonderful thing is that all the residents have their own space and choose what they want to take part in or what support they need – we all have the chance to actively work on our recovery alongside one another and Mind staff.” - Heather, Haven Frankston

“I’ve been in hospital quite a few times for a few years while I’ve suffered. But now since living at Haven I don’t have hospital visits anymore.” - Shaun, Haven Pakenham

“The community at Haven Pakenham is great; before I came here I only had my family, but here it’s different because you are around people like you. You get along because they understand what you’re going through.” - Darren, Haven Pakenham