Council & Politics
25 September, 2025
Homes sit empty
IN the midst of a housing crisis, 16 brand new government owned units in Ararat remain empty despite being completed months ago.
The homes in Grano Street have sat empty since April, despite an official opening and a promise they would be tenanted by June.
The 16 single bedroom units were built by the Elmstone Group and purchased by Homes Victoria, a statutory body owned by the Victorian Government.
The Advocate has since learned that the homes, which were initially expected to be rented to older, single people, have since been leased to Aboriginal Community Housing Victoria Limited.
The Advocate approached the organisation for comment on when the homes would be occupied but received no response.
The new homes are part of the Victorian Government’s $5.3 billion Big Build program to build new social housing across Victoria.
A Homes Victoria spokesperson said the development provides 16 new social housing homes, increasing much needed housing options for Ararat locals in need.
“Homes Victoria contributed more than $4 million towards social housing units in Ararat as part of the Victorian Government’s landmark $5.3 billion Big Housing Build.
“The development provides 16 new social housing homes, increasing much needed housing options for applicants on the Victorian Housing Register.
“Homes Victoria has recently leased these homes to a registered Aboriginal Community Controlled housing organisation and they will be tenanted soon,” the spokesperson said.
Shadow Housing Minister Richard Riorden said it’s an unacceptable situation when there are people desperately needing a home.
He said the government has made a huge mistake by investing in single bedroom properties in towns like Ararat.
“All the housing providers don’t want a bar of single bedroom studios because they are completely inflexible.
“The reality is the big cohort the government keeps talking about, older women, invariably end up with grandchildren, they end up with their daughter or son who suffers dysfunction, they become unwell and need someone to come and stay with them. There’s a whole raft of reasons why a two bedroom home, which costs almost nothing much extra to build, is a better solution,” he said.
Mr Riordan said it was unacceptable that with so many people needing a roof over their head, the units sit empty.
“We have an MCG and a half full of people (in Victoria) that have nowhere to sleep tonight and we’ve got 16 units sitting empty in Ararat which is scandalous.
“The Member for Ripon is going to be out there telling everyone, ‘look at us we’re delivering new social housing for Ararat’, but Ararat is like Colac, 16 homes sitting empty is a lot of homes, it’s not like 16 empty homes in the CBD.
“I’m sure if your newspaper put an ad in for people that might be couch surfing or doing it tough or escaping domestic violence or any number of other reasons people need housing, you’ll soon find 16 people in Ararat, Mr Riordon said.
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