“Transformative” is how Rev. Ansie Liebenberg described the “rallying” of the community in and around her local congregation to make way for the September 15 opening of 'Uniting Place Warwick’.
The project celebrates ten new “affordable” homes on Guy Street, Warwick - seven, one-bedroom dwellings and three, with two-bedrooms - constructed by local builders Active Built and in conjunction with the church, local council and the state government.
The Uniting Church in Queensland said the project is a step towards "offering safe and affordable homes for low-income households in the local community" from land owned by the Uniting Church’s Warwick Killarney and Freestone Parish.
“We are thrilled to see the end of this project,” their minister, Rev. Liebenberg told us, with hopes for tenants in the first week of October. “A lot of passionate people worked together to make this dream come true.”
She further emphasised that the “stress” of finding accommodation in Warwick had led to the increasing number of homeless people locally, especially women over 55 years “who are living in their cars or are couch surfing”.
The result “took an army” of people to collaborate for in what has been “transformative not only for the property but also for the congregation.
“This project has given an elderly congregation the ability to see that they can still make a difference and part in God’s mission,” Rev Liebenberg said.
“Every person in this parish owns (the project) and there’s a sense of pride in it. It has been a real joy to see the growth in personal conviction that this is the right thing for us.”
Rev. Liebenberg said that the current and former mayor of the Southern Downs, and local councillors have been “passionate about getting it off the ground”.
“The project has opened up an opportunity to become relevant in our community and people have wanted to partner with us,” she further said.
As well as the state government, Rev. Liebenberg thanked congregation members, local building designer and town planner, Ian Darnell, Jenny Lane, and the support of Uniting Church Synod Office staff.
A second development project, in Killarney, of four homes on Eucalyptus Street, will offer two, one-bedroom and two, two-bedroom dwellings, due for completion next month.
The developments are owned by the Uniting Church in Australia and Regional Housing will manage tenancies for both Warwick and Killarney sites under the Affordable Housing Program (AHP).
The rent charged would be 74.9% of the market rent. Regional Housing encourages singles and families to apply.
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