In an Australian-first, the City of Melbourne Council and Unison Housing have completed a conversion of a Council building into supportive housing apartments.
Located at 602 Little Bourke Street, the ‘Make Room‘ building features 50 studio apartments with onsite health and independent living skills support along with 24/7 front desk security, a rooftop garden and a space for a social enterprise.
Lord Mayor, Nick Reece said the design and service model were co-created with individuals who have lived experience of homelessness, ensuring it meets the diverse needs of future residents.
“Today is landmark day for everyone in our community – there’s no doubt that Make Room will change lives and save lives,” said Lord Mayor Reece.
“We have set a new standard for supportive transitional housing in Victoria and a new standard for the adaptive reuse of public buildings to deliver good quality housing.
“Melbourne is a city that cares, and nothing says that more than what we have accomplished at Make Room. We are truly a fair, inclusive and supportive city.”
Tenanting will commence in mid-January, with residents to call Make Room home for up to 12 months, or until they secure appropriate alternative housing.
The initiative represents a unique partnership between the City of Melbourne, the Victorian Government, Unison Housing, cohealth and Ngwala Willumbong.
“We know that supportive housing projects like Make Room provide life-changing outcomes for people experiencing homelessness. Providing a safe place to sleep, and access to tailored support services is the first step in making that a reality,” said Minister for Housing, Harriet Shing.
“Partnerships with organisations like City of Melbourne mean that we can deliver programs and services like this one in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD where it is needed most.”
Unison Housing CEO, James King said the project demonstrates what can be achieved when both local and state government come together with community housing and philanthropic partners.
“The City of Melbourne showed true courage in leading the Make Room project. The real test now lies in achieving meaningful outcomes for our city’s most vulnerable through Unison’s onsite tenancy management and cohealth’s wraparound support,” said Mr King.
The Make Room development also features a dedicated floor of 10 units, called the Pheonix Floor. This floor will be a safe and affirming space for women who have experienced family violence and or sexual assault. Make Room will also work to identify a space on a dedicated floor for people who identify as non-binary or are part of the LQBTIQ+ community.
Four expressive artworks by Aboriginal artists Matthew Harris and Mitch Mahoney will be displayed throughout Make Room, as part of the project’s commitment to cultural safety.
The artworks include panels that evoke the movement of wind, a stunning night sky surrounding the entrance, and a 20-meter-high mural that tells the saltwater story of narrm, with the etched tiles with bronze inlay abalone shells. Unison Housing developed the project and will manage tenancies and operations, with Harris HMC as the builder and i2C Architects as the designer.
The City of Melbourne has raised more than $16.1 million for the $24.9 million capital project, including $9 million capital funding from the Victorian Government in addition to a range of leading philanthropic and corporate partners. The Victorian Government has also committed the sole operational funding of $5.2 million over two years for on-site support and specialised tenancy management
Cohealth will provide mental health support, housing assistance, legal services, dental care, women’s health services, and podiatry.
“We know that a home is more than just four walls—it’s a foundation for health, safety, and opportunity. By combining Unison’s expertise in providing stable, secure housing with cohealth’s holistic health and social support, we’re not just addressing homelessness—we’re creating a pathway to improved health outcomes and lasting stability for some of Melbourne’s most vulnerable residents,” said cohealth CEO, Nicole Bartholomeusz.
“cohealth is acutely aware of the devastating health and social impacts of enduring homelessness, which is often an unsafe and traumatic existence. We look forward to providing residents with the support they need, while addressing the systemic factors that can cause homelessness to recur.”
Using culturally-specific principles, Ngwala will support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents to transition into and maintain their tenancies at Make Room – and continue to support them in their future homes.
“Ngwala Willumbong is looking forward to being part of this new initiative in ensuring cultural safety and guidance to our community members engaged in the Make a Room project,” said Ngwala Willumbong Chief Executive Officer, De-Joel Upkett.
“This initiative is exceptional and groundbreaking, particularly in the unity of all the vital stakeholders collaborating to provide Melbourn’s most vulnerable community members with safe and supported housing. Ngwala Willumbong is proud to be an active participant.”
“Everyone deserves to have a safe roof over their head and a place to call home – this is a remarkable achievement in delivering supported housing right in the heart of Melbourne,” said Council Community, Health and City Services portfolio head Councillor, Gladys Liu.
“I want to thank our philanthropic and corporate partners who have stood with us every step of the way – without their unwavering support delivering a project of this magnitude simply wouldn’t be possible,” she said.
