‘Safe, secure, stable’: $2.2m Uniting WA social housing facility approved at Alexandra Place, Bentley

State planners have given the green light for a social housing complex in Bentley that will, in part, house ex-prisoners returning to the outside world. It was revealed during planning approval for the three-building facility last week that at least one dwelling will be occupied by a tenant transitioning out of custodial sentencing. An old single-storey house at 71 Alexandra Place will be demolished and replaced with “safe, secure and stable” accommodation for adults who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing homelessness. The $2.2 million project received the unanimous support of the Metro Inner Development Assessment Panel at its Thursday meeting. “What we identified, particularly with people who are formerly homeless, (is that) there’s a real gap between transitional (housing) with people coming off the street or from crisis accommodation and then going into permanent housing,” Uniting WA project manager Ingrid van Dorssen said. “It was designed as self-contained accommodation ... so that it gives them the best opportunity to build their independent living skills (while) giving them dignity, privacy, safety, security and all of those things as they transition through the housing continuum.” Tenants will be expected to contribute to the upkeep of the property and will be encouraged to foster a “collaborative community” with other residents. They will also be given opportunities for education and employment and will have weekly visitations from their support workers. But City of Canning mayor Patrick Hall questioned Ms van Dorssen why the public had not been told the facility would house a former prisoner. “To be honest ... it’s very sensitive, and people have a right to privacy, and we would not object to that, but obviously, we’re just managing fears in the community,” Ms van Dorssen said. “We just thought we don’t want to generate fear (but) we’re happy to meet with the community if the council received any complaints or concerns about this development. “There will be contact details that we can give ... to neighbours so they can contact us (and) there’ll be 24-7 on our security or our support staff to come and fix the problem. “Apologies that we weren’t upfront about that ... it’s not my decision, but from Uniting’s perspective, it is sensitive information ... they have a right to privacy.” But Mr Hall said he was “disappointed” Uniting WA did not consult the Bentley community. “Does the Uniting Church believe that the sensitivity and privacy of those people (former prisoners) is more important than transparency and honesty in the development application process?” he said. “I’m wondering why you’re happy to consult with everybody and be fully frank about it, but you had your opportunity and chose not to do that.” The City of Canning advertised the project for community consultation earlier this year and received 16 objections relating to traffic, antisocial behaviour, amenity and parking. Its responsible authority report said the development was “unlikely” to have an impact on the amenity and would “meet the needs of the community”. “It’s social housing, and there’s always going to be a little bit of fear and uncertainty around that, but .. I’ve lived next to social housing, and one of the issues is that people aren’t given the support they need,” Ms van Dorssen said. “We have existing facilities in Fremantle and Perth where the community don’t even know we’re there, and the ones that do are friends with their neighbours. “It is all about the people, and when they have the support they need, you don’t have those issues, so they integrate well into the community, and that’s what Uniting WA is about.” The three-building facility — which Uniting WA has named Aspirations Housing — will have seven one-bedroom, one-bathroom units and communal facilities. It will be available to seven residents on a medium to long-term basis and will be developed by Dynamic Planning.