Elizabeth Street Common Ground (ESCG) is a permanent supportive housing initiative that aims to provide, safe, secure and long-term housing options for people who have experienced homelessness. Following the Housing First principles, a core aim of ESCG is to reduce the number of chronic homelessness in Melbourne by providing immediate access to housing coupled with wrap-around support services located on-site.
ESCG constitutes a partnership with Launch Housing, Unison Community Housing and the Victoria Property Fund, Victoria and Federal Governments and Grocon Construction.
Built form
Established in August 2010, the eleven storey, residential complex provides 65 studio apartments for people who have experienced chronic homelessness and provides support to improve residents’ health, wellbeing and lifestyle. Sixty-six affordable tenancies are also included in the form of two bedroom apartments for low income households and students.
The complex integrates numerous common spaces and essential services which can turn tenant lives around, including a green roof, medical facilities, mental health facilities, an art therapy room, a common computer room, a recreation room, employment referral services and a library.
Common Ground Elizabeth Street follows Universal Design principles and has been built to Five Green Star design standards. Features of the project include rainwater harvesting; grey water re-use for flushing of toilets; natural ventilation through the central void and operable windows and sliding doors throughout which makes air conditioning unnecessary; 30 solar panels boosting gas fired hot water; a C-Bus lighting and electrical control system for the common areas integrated with motion detectors for automated lighting; energy smart meters for each apartment; a central boiler delivering hot water to radiators in each apartment for safe and effective heating; double glazing throughout for effective thermal insulation; and recycling waste storage on each floor. These design features not only reduce the environmental impact, but also improve the running costs for tenants.
Every unit has a private balcony and tenants have access to a shared rooftop space which includes a vegetable garden to facilitate social inclusion and build a sense of community. A 24-hour concierge desk, swipe card entry and CCTV ensures privacy and security.
Financial details
The Victorian Government provided capital funding for ESCG under the ‘A Place to Call Home’ program. Additional funding has also been raised through in-kind contributions from a range of philanthropic supporters including John T Reid Charitable Trusts, The Collie Foundation, the Rotary Club of Melbourne, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, Dino Grollo Community Fund and the Dumbarton Fund (through the Australian Communities Foundation).
Working in conjunction with State and Federal Governments, Unison Community Housing and the Victoria Property Fund, Grocon offered their construction services on a no-profit basis to build and fit out ESCG. As part of the no-profit arrangement, Grocon pledged to return any cost savings on the original contract budget of $44.1 million. Approximately 70 subcontractors and suppliers committed their services to the project, and combined with construction innovation, the project was completed at actual delivery price of $34 million, returning almost 20 percent of the original contract price back to the partnership.
Property and tenancy management
Launch Housing has been vested ownership of the ESCG property. Of the 131 apartments, 50 per cent are allocated to people who have experienced homelessness. The remaining 66 apartments provide housing for low income earners and students.
Client referrals are through homelessness services and access points across Victoria and rent is set at 25 per cent of income.
Individually tailored long-term support services constitutes a key factor contributing to housing stability for ESCG tenants. Engagement with support is voluntary and can be accessed as often and for as long as needed.
Services include Allied Health and Ancillary Services Program, comprising therapeutic, health, recreational, occupational, vocational and educational programs and services. Most of these ancillary services have been delivered on-site and include after-hours an external support resources, and while participation is non-compulsory, sustained tenant engagement has been documented (Rotary Club of Melbourne 2012).
Further information
For further information about Elizabeth Street Common Ground, please visit:
https://www.launchhousing.org.au/service/elizabeth-street-common-ground
Additional resources for this profile
Elizabeth Street Common Ground 5th Anniversary — Launch Housing (2016):
https://cms.launchhousing.org.au/app/uploads/2016/12/LH_ESCG_booklet_04.pdf
Grocon Construction — ESCG profile:
https://www.grocon.com/project/elizabeth-street-common-ground-melbourne/
