In an Australian first, the City of Melbourne and Unison Housing have completed the conversion of a Council building into supportive housing, with Make Room now getting ready to welcome its first residents. Located at 602 Little Bourke Street, the 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.

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.

Tenanting will commence in mid-January with residents calling Make Room home for up to 12 months, or until they secure appropriate alternative housing.

This initiative represents a unique partnership between the City of Melbourne, the Victorian Government, Unison Housing, cohealth and Ngwala Willumbong.

Make Room 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.

These 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.

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.