Affordable housing in Camperdown

Media coverage: The Inner-West Courier, 27 September 2011  

Finding affordable housing in Sydney is possible - even if you’re homeless. This is the idea behind Common Ground Sydney, a large residential development at Camperdown.

MA Housing CEO Andrew McAnulty and project manager Thanh Quach, of construction group Grocon, took the Courier for a tour of the site last Wednesday.

“There’s a massive shortage of affordable housing,” Mr McAnulty said in relation to the Darlington protesters of September 16. “Common Ground shows affordable housing can be delivered in the city, not just out west.”

Grocon has built the development at cost as part of its corporate social responsibility program, Mr Quach said.
He added: “All the apartments are below-market prices.”

“The rent will be 25 per cent of the tenant’s income.”

The site houses modest 32sq m apartments, which are balanced with common areas on each level.

Tenants would be a mixture of low-income earners and the homeless - with an aim toward long-term, stable accommodation for those who are sleeping rough.

The first residents are scheduled to move in by late October.

Building stats

• It has 88 studio, 12 one bedroom and four two-bedroom apartments
• Balcony balustrades have a ‘‘slit’’ design to allow extra airflow toward apartments
• It has two consultation rooms containing health diagnostic equipment and footbaths

If you know someone who is in need of low-cost rental housing, please encourage them to contact MA Housing for more information.

Contact Adi, Brad or Sarah on the MA Housing hotline, 1800 269 672 or visit www.mahousing.com.au for more information.

Further reading:

• ‘MA Housing opens waiting list for ground-breaking housing project’