Posts Categorized: News

New mixed tenure development officially opens in Woolloongabba

On May 6, we opened the doors to our latest project in Woolloongabba, providing much-needed homes for those in need. We were privileged to have the Minister for Communities and Housing, the Honourable Leeanne Enoch MP in attendance to officially open the $10.7 million, 32-unit complex.

BHC CEO Rebecca Oelkers said the Cornwall Street development has made an important contribution to increasing the supply of affordable housing in Brisbane’s inner city.

“BHC developed and partially funded the Cornwall Street building to provide a roof over the head of some of the state’s most vulnerable, alongside essential workers, actively supporting Brisbane’s health, education and transport industries. (more…)

Furnishing Young Futures – Setting up the young people for success

BHC’s development at Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba provides 32 much-needed affordable homes for those in housing need. Completed in February 2021, the development contains 32 units, with five homes specifically designed and allocated for young people and their families.

BHC is working with Brisbane Youth Service (BYS) to support the young peoples’ transition to safe and stable housing. Residents in these five homes will benefit from BYS’s wrap-around support services, including assistance to help them to engage in education, training and employment, with the ultimate aim to move forward these young people into long-term sustainable housing options.

“Working together with our partner’s BYS we will be able to provide vulnerable young people with secure housing and a path towards an independent and positive future,” said BHC CEO, Rebecca Oelkers.

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Working together to tackle youth homelessness

We are proud to announce that BHC and BYS will partner to provide much-needed homes for young people at risk of homelessness at a property under construction in Woolloongabba.

This development will see the provision of 32 new affordable homes with five specifically designed for young people including one for a young family.

BHC CEO Rebecca Oelkers said residents would be able to access safe, secure, affordable housing and BYS support services that help them into education, training and jobs with the aim of moving into long term homes.

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Project defining downsizing for seniors wins affordable housing award

We are proud to announce that BHC’s Benson Place has received the state award in the affordable development category at the UDIA Queensland 2020 Mitchell Brandtman Awards for Excellence.

The development was designed by leading Brisbane firm Ultralinea Architecture, comprises of 35 one-bedroom modern apartments, each with a separate multi-purpose room.

BHC CEO Rebecca Oelkers said the development was uniquely created for senior public housing residents in the Logan area who were looking to downsize into more suitable accommodation.

“Before living at Benson Place, these residents were living in large, detached public housing properties that were too big for their current household requirements, with poor accessibility, and difficult maintenance requirements,” Ms Oelkers said.

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Vale Professor John McAuliffe- A message from the Independent Chair and CEO

Dear BHC friends and partners,

It is with great sadness that we write with the news of Professor John McAuliffe’s passing.

John died yesterday at his home, with his loved ones close by, following a recent stroke and associated health challenges. On behalf of the BHC Board and Executive, we extend his family and friends, and the many other people whose lives he touched, our deepest condolences.

John made a lasting impact on Brisbane in many ways, and BHC was fortunate to have his involvement and leadership from its foundation in 2002, through to his retirement from the Board in 2016.

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Jingeri wins the Affordable Development Award in the UDIA National Awards

We are delighted to announce that BHC’s Jingeri has won the Affordable Development Award in the UDIA Wingate National Awards for Excellence. This is our first UDIA National win and we couldn’t be more proud of this building and the residents who call it home!

Built in partnership with the Queensland Government under the Elderly Parent Carer Innovation Initiative, Jingeri provides purpose-built accommodation for people living with a disability who were previously residing with elderly parents.

Jingeri challenges preconceptions about what accessible housing looks like and is a testament to the work of our construction consultants – KO & Co Architecture, Integral Construction, Saunders Havill and Lambert & Rehbein.

We’d also like to thank Communify Qld for continuing to support our residents maintain their independent living.

Learn more about this development, read the judges comments here: https://udia.com.au/winner-affordable-development/

Our Coronavirus (COVID-19) Preparedness

We are closely monitoring developments around the coronavirus and will continue to provide support and advice to our residents as the situation unfolds.

BHC Head Office Update – Changes to our working arrangements in response to COVID-19 social distancing requirements

In the interest of ensuring the health and wellbeing of BHC staff, residents and suppliers, BHC’s Head Office is now closed and staff are working remotely.

Should you need to contact us during this time, please do so using the following methods:

Please be assured that continuity of service to our residents is our highest priority during this time. We are constantly monitoring all messages and emails and will respond to your enquiry as quickly as possible.

Stay up to date with the latest information about COVID-19 and your housing service, visit our dedicated page for Coronavirus Updates and follow us on Facebook at BHC Creating Liveable Communities.

Thank you for your assistance and understanding with this important matter.

A new approach to tackling the cycle of homelessness

Housing and support services are about to be significantly enhanced, with a new approach to tackling the cycle of homelessness to be implemented for some of Brisbane’s most vulnerable community housing residents.

Brisbane City Council’s Pathways out of Homelessness Grant Program will provide close to $3 million over three years to enable new, innovative and sustainable solutions to address the growing community issue of homelessness in Brisbane.

A consortium comprised of respected support organisation, Communify Queensland, and community housing providers Bric Housing and BHC Creating Liveable Communities, was successful with their grant application for Sustaining at Risk Tenancies, a new program designed to deliver a coordinated approach to establishing and delivering support services to some of the providers’ most vulnerable tenants.

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Standard and Poors (S&P) reaffirms BHC’s AA- credit rating

S&P Global Ratings logo

International ratings agency, Standard and Poors (S&P), has reaffirmed BHC’s AA- rating for the 3rd consecutive time since the initial rating in 2016. The high rating is a reflection of BHC’s financial position, experienced management, strong relationship with the Government and a robust demand for its quality affordable housing assets.

As Australia’s only community housing provider with a credit rating, the AA- rating from S&P provides BHC with options to diversify funding sources in order to continue to grow the supply of affordable housing.

More social and affordable homes on the way in Woolloongabba

We broke ground last week at our newest affordable housing development at Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba. BHC’s Rebecca Oelkers and Eloise Atkinson, were joined by the Hon. Jackie Trad MP, Deputy Premier and Treasurer, the Hon. Mick de Brenni, Minister for Housing and Public Works and Annemaree Callander from Brisbane Youth Service to mark the occasion.

This development is the first to be constructed under the Queensland Government’s Partnering for Growth initiative. Designed by acclaimed Brisbane architect, Karen Ognibene, this building will provide 32 modern, high-quality affordable homes, including 5 homes specifically for young people and young families.

The Cornwall Street development will make an important contribution to growing the supply of affordable housing in Brisbane’s inner suburbs and help support neighbourhood renewal in this precinct. We are very excited to see construction commence on this vital project.

Check out our video of the event here: