Achieving a Platinum rating from Livable Housing Australia gives Yarra Community Housing (YCH) confidence that it has an asset that can accommodate the needs of its tenants both now, and well into the future.
YCH, in partnership with Mind Australia, was one of the first to achieve Livable Housing Australia’s Platinum certification - a seal of approval that attests to enhanced livability. YCH received $1.9 million through the Supported Accommodation Innovation Fund (SAIF) to build a dual disability housing and support project in Melbourne’s western suburbs, which will be home to five adults with severe or profound disabilities.
“We are delighted to be one of the first projects to achieve a Platinum rating. This represents another significant step forward in our journey to design affordable housing projects that better meet the needs of a diverse range of people,” says YCH’s Chief Executive, Rob Leslie. LHA’s Livable Housing Design Guidelines outline 16 design elements that contribute to a livable dwelling. All 16 elements are required in order to achieve Platinum level accreditation.
YCH’s project includes a safe and step-free entrance into the home, internal doors and corridors that facilitate comfortable and unimpeded movement between spaces and bathrooms designed for easy and independent access. Light switches, power points, handles and tapware are easy for everyone to reach and use. Window sills are at a height that enables residents to view the outdoors from either a seated standing position. Floor coverings are slip resistant to reduce the likelihood of slips, trips and falls in the home.
“YCH is committed to housing design that enhances liveability and ease of access for a variety of tenants including children, pregnant women, people with disabilities and the aged,” says Project Manager, Myra Kitchenman. The process of obtaining the Quality Mark helped YCH to deliver a more livable housing project, Myra says.
“By undertaking design reviews at two critical points, pre-planning application and pre-building tenders, we were able to ensure great design outcomes. LHA certification provides us with a high level of confidence that we have an appropriate design that can accommodate the needs of all our current and future tenants.”