The development of 21 villas was officially opened last week on the former site of St Faith’s Hostel for Girls, designed as an inexpensive and flexible housing option for locals aged over 55.

 

According to St Vincent’s de Paul’s Housing CEO Brian Murnane, all rooms at the facility are already full and there is a long waiting list for residents to move in.

 

Unlike typical aged care facilities, residents will pay a bond and then weekly rent, rather than buying one of the one, two or three-bedroom units outright.

 

The housing will continue to be called St Faith’s, however the day-to-day of the site will be run by Parkes Forbes Community Housing.

 

The facility is the first of 12 projects that the charity is undertaking through the NSW government’s Social and Affordable Housing Fund – an initiative that aims to increase the supply of housing through outcomes-focused contracts with nominated service providers such as St Vincent’s.