Threshold Housing Society Study in Victoria: Forrest House

Threshold Housing Society is a non-profit housing provider that supports youth aging out of care or fleeing domestic violence and abuse. Many of the youth also identify as LGBTQ2S+. Threshold receives on average 137 referrals per year, yet only has 35 beds within four houses and 10 individual units. This initiative will establish the feasibility of an 18 unit new-build to replace one of Threshold’s existing 8-unit properties. Environmental measures under consideration include a highly efficient building envelope, heat-exchange ventilation and other highly energy efficient building systems. The building is designed to emphasize passive solar heat gain. Finally, Threshold intends to procure sustainable materials (recycled or renewable) wherever possible. Innovative aspect(s): Social considerations are at the forefront of the building’s design. · The first floor of the building includes commercial ‘flex’ space, encouraging interaction between youth residents and members of the community working in technology and the arts. Threshold staff will also work on the first floor, allowing consistent resident support. · The residential areas integrate trauma-informed and harm-reduction principles. The spaces promote resident interaction and facilitate support for youth with a broad range of backgrounds, with particular attention to supporting indigenous culture(s). Replicability: The replicability in this project comes from a highly involved consulting project management team that open sources its affordable housing development models to non-profit providers, and regularly presents at prominent housing conferences across the country. Affordability: · 100% of the units are affordable · All units are rented at shelter rates more than 40% below MMR (Project description from original funding application)