Many shovels turn first sod at Wyn Carr House

WA Housing and Homelessness Minister, John Carey MLA, today launched the first milestone in the redevelopment of Uniting WA’s Wyn Carr House in Fremantle and, with a team of assistant sod turners, turned the first sod.

Minister John Carey and assistant sod turners, Wyn Carr House, 19 November 2024

The redevelopment is a collaboration between the State Government, the not-for-profit agency Uniting WA, Housing All Australians (HAA) and private businesses. Wyn Carr House will be a transitional accommodation facility for older women, who are one of the fastest growing cohorts experiencing homelessness.

Wyn Carr House. Artist’s impression of completed development. Source WA Uniting

When completed in 2025, Wyn Carr House will offer 12 rooms, ensuites and living areas for older women, along with wrap around services including counselling, tenancy services and other supports as needed.

Wyn Carr House. Artist’s impression of completed development. Source WA Uniting

The Wyn Carr House redevelopment will increase the supply of social housing in Western Australia and deliver secure accommodation to some of the most vulnerable members in the community.

The redevelopment revitalises a significant heritage building – Wyn Carr House originally operated as a women’s refuge from 1978 to 2019, when it was no longer fit for purpose. The new building has been designed with a trauma-informed lens to provide a sense of safety and security, as well as opportunities for healing and connection between residents.

The funding model for Wyn Carr House redevelopment and operations is impressive, and, in addition to private donors, includes –
State Government
· $4,202,045 State Government Community Housing New Build grant
· $819,925 State Government Community Housing Refurbishment grant
· $2,068,258 Lotterywest grant
Pro bono partners through HAA – Housing All Australians
Over $1 million from pro bono partners and donors in pro bono professional services, who have donated and discounted materials and goods
The property itself
Uniting WA owns the property and will manage the redevelopment and ongoing operations and their pro bono partners include Cox Architects, MinterEllison, RPS Group, Planning Solutions, Element, ARUP, Tim Davies Landscaping, MNG, Code Group, Rider Levett Bucknall, Strategic Fire and Powerledger.

The need for the development is demonstrable. The rate of older women experiencing homelessness has been rising, growing by almost 40% between 2011 and 2021, as estimated by Specialist homelessness services annual report 2022–23, Older clients – Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Wyn Carr House. Artist’s impression of completed development. Source WA Uniting

Jen Park, Co-CEO Uniting WA, explained that the Wyn Carr project will “offer supported transitional accommodation which provides a safe environment where women can build capacity and confidence through whatever tailored supports they might need – to make sure they can address issues that led to their experience of homelessness.”

Ms Park also emphasised that the challenge to end homelessness requires a whole of community approach – with roles for the government, the private and not for profit sectors to offer new solutions which deliver economic and social benefits for the whole community, and added:

“The housing shortage and cost of living crisis are major drivers of homelessness. But when it comes to older women, there are systemic factors leading to older women becoming increasingly more vulnerable to homelessness. Women generally spend more time in caring roles, have a lower lifetime income and lower superannuation. They also face other issues of gendered income inequality and domestic violence.”

Lee Rossetto, the WA Chair of Housing All Australians, a non-profit dedicated to helping with the funding of housing for all Australians, highlighted that “Through the Wyn Carr House project, Housing All Australians WA management committee secured over $1 million in professional services, construction materials, and additional donations from more than 20 individuals, professional services firms, and companies, thereby unlocking an opportunity to repurpose and un-used asset.”

From left, Minister John Carey, Jen Park, Lee Rossetto and Michael Chester

Mr Rossetto noted that Wyn Carr House shows what can happen “when we harness skills, good and services in the private sector – and the enormous goodwill in the business community. It’s incredibly rewarding to support a project that aids a vulnerable and often overlooked group – older women experiencing homelessness. Projects like this unite values-aligned leaders and their teams, offering businesses a tangible way to drive change and give back to the community by supporting those facing housing insecurity.”

Mr Rossetto also made the point that homelessness is “too big and complex an issue” for government or any one sector to solve alone, advocating that “We have to pool our strengths and bring them to the table, which is where Housing All Australians comes in.”

It is great news that the Wyn Carr project is underway with a 2025 completion timeline. Congratulations to all concerned.

* By Michael Barker, Editor, Fremantle Shipping News

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