Madden House is a former rooming house transformed into 26 units for Port Phillip people sleeping rough. Located in Wellington Street near St Kilda Junction, it was officially opened last week and will soon start housing people.
The $10.9 million project was funded by Homes Victoria, with a $4.75 million contribution from the City of Port Phillip. The three-storey facility will be managed by St Kilda Community Housing (SKCH).
TWISK visited the site before any residents were housed as part of the week of opening ceremonies.
It’s an impressive but straightforward building. Each of the 26 rooms is self-contained with kitchen and bathroom facilities, a single bed and cupboard space. The rooms are not spacious, with only room for a small table that can seat two people. The feeling is secure, modern, bright and yours.
Given that there will be 26 residents, apart from a kitchen and communal table area near the front entrance, there’s not a lot of common space. The impression is that it’s primarily a place to sleep and feel safe.
Part of the setup is a 24/7 ‘concierge’ at the front of house. There will also be a housing officer to help tenants negotiate the transition from homelessness to their place in Madden House.
SKCH are at pains to say the accommodation is for as long as people want it; it’s not transitional or emergency housing – it’s intended to provide stability.
Of course, any facility housing 26 people who have lived a precarious existence will face the consequences of trauma and abuse, so there will be rules to protect both the ‘common ground’ and individual welfare. This is an area that SKCH is devoting a lot of effort to.
Madden House is a bold initiative, in a well-connected location, that will make a difference in lives, 26 people at a time.
Bravo to Council and the State, and ultimately to St Kilda Community Housing.
