New Kilburn affordable housing development opens to help ease housing crisis

Westside Housing’s newest townhouse development in Kilburn will today be officially opened by the Premier, Peter Malinauskas, in a further step to meet the ever-growing demand for high quality, affordable rental accommodation in South Australia.

The $2.6 million development on Prospect Road comprises two one-bedroom and eight two-bedroom townhouses, offering affordable housing close to shopping, medical facilities and public transport.

Editor’s note: Media are invited to attend the opening of the new housing development at 10.30am, Friday 12 August, cnr Prospect Road and Brunswick St, Kilburn.

Westside Housing CEO, Julie Blake, said the completion of the project was particularly timely given the current challenging rental market in Adelaide.

“There’s never been a greater need for new housing stock in Adelaide to meet the extraordinary demand for affordable housing,” Ms Blake said.

“Housing affordability stress is high for people living on lower incomes who are struggling to pay the rent and are increasingly unable to secure a rental property at all in a competitive market.

“This site will provide affordable rental housing at a significant discount on market rent to people who may not qualify for social housing but need a reduced rent.

“These 10 townhouses will be tenanted almost immediately and we have a long list of applicants that we won’t be able to help.

“Our organisation houses more than 1,000 people, of which 88 per cent were experiencing homelessness when they came to us. We currently have a portfolio of 460 homes throughout greater metropolitan Adelaide.”

Environmental sustainability and low utility costs for residents is a key element of the development with all electric appliances and solar panels, heat pumps for low energy hot water, high grade insulation, plumbed rainwater, double glazed windows and cross ventilation to reduce the utility costs of residents.

Westside Housing is a South Australian not-for-profit community housing provider based in West Hindmarsh, providing subsidised rental housing to eligible people on very low to moderate incomes, who are unable to access the private market.

These homes are part of a broader development plan with $5m worth of housing with development approvals in place. 

The organisation recently completed a $2 million community housing development in Blair Athol and Enfield, in partnership with the South Australian Housing Authority under the Community Housing Asset Renewal Program, which is now providing safe and affordable housing for women and their children, veterans, and downsizers.