🏘️ Housing

Housing project will help disadvantaged youth in Murray Bridge

For the second time, Habitat for Humanity plans to transform an old duplex into four studio apartments for young people.

Peri Strathearn

Jan 30, 2023 — 3 min read

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Among those collaborating on a youth housing project in Murray Bridge are Louise Hay, Rikki Morland, Lee Prestwood, Shane Maddocks, Gerry Korzeba, Dhruv Sharma and Bob Martin. Photo: Peri Strathearn.

Stage two of a housing project for youth at risk of homelessness is about to get underway in Murray Bridge.

Habitat for Humanity plans to refurbish an old duplex in the heart of the town – within walking distance of shops and workplaces – and turn it into four studio apartments with new kitchens and bathrooms.

Each property will be made available to rent by young people coming out of the foster care system.

Making safe, stable and affordable housing available would be a game-changer for local youth, Habitat for Humanity executive officer Louise Hay said.

“Statistics show this group are highly disadvantaged and are over-represented in … areas including homelessness services, health system and the justice system,” she said.

“These studio apartments will provide housing for young people and give them the opportunity to develop the life skills needed to maintain a successful tenancy in the future.”

The old duplex will get plenty of TLC over the next 10 months. Photos: Peri Strathearn.

Baptist Care will support each tenant as they start their independent lives.

The SA Housing Trust, Department of Child Protection, Murray Bridge council, Cornerstone Housing and AC Care will also contribute to the $163,000 project; and Impact 100, a group of South Australian philanthropists, provided a $100,000 donation to help it get started.

Work on the property is due to start in the coming weeks, and should be finished by October.

Thanuja Hiripitiyage and Steve Bown open Habitat for Humanity’s last project in Murray Bridge, Studio Purpose, in 2021. Photo: Peri Strathearn.

It’s not the first time Habitat for Humanity has led a project like this in Murray Bridge.

The Studio Purpose project, completed in 2021, also turned a duplex into four studio apartments for use by disadvantaged young people aged 15 to 21.

The organisation led the construction of a house in the Pathways estate in 2013, too.

As it did on those previous occasions, Habitat for Humanity will look to partner with local businesses and seek donations from individuals who want to make a difference in the community.