Energy efficiency boost for 500 homes means St Vincent de Paul Society tenants benefit from CEFC input

15 March 2017

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has congratulated the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW and Amélie Housing on its new program to design, construct, operate and maintain 500 energy efficient homes under the NSW Government Social and Affordable Housing Fund (SAHF).

The CEFC helped structure the financing arrangements, including developing market-leading sustainability initiatives, for the bid by Amélie Housing, which is the community housing company of the Trustees of the Society of St Vincent de Paul (NSW).

CEFC Debt Markets lead Richard Lovell said: "The CEFC is proud to have been associated with this project in its early stages and to have played a part in helping to set the commendable energy efficiency standards Amélie Housing is aiming to achieve with these new homes. We are delighted that this venture is coming to fruition.

"In recognition of the early support and assistance from the CEFC, Amélie Housing will include a strong commitment to higher energy efficient housing in the new homes."

"In particular, we welcome the target of an average seven-star NatHERS rating for the new homes. A seven-star rating will put these homes well above the energy efficiency requirements for NSW, which adheres to the National Construction Code.

"This high standard of energy efficiency will allow community housing and low income tenants to better manage their energy bills and have access to a high standard of accommodation with an increased level of comfort."

While CEFC finance is not required for this element of the project, the two organisations are working together to consider how they can extend the benefits of clean energy and energy efficiency to other areas of the Society's social housing portfolio.

Brian Murnane, CEO Amélie Housing, said the input from the CEFC had been crucial.

"Our final bid was strengthened by the advice and assistance we received from the CEFC. We are grateful for their suggestions around energy efficiency, which will enable residents to keep their utility costs down and reduce environmental impacts," he said.

"The real strength of our proposal is that not only will Amélie Housing be providing affordable housing stock, but also that the Society will be assisting tenants with wrap-around support services. This is where the Society excels and what our members, volunteers and employees have been doing across the state for many decades - supporting residents to connect with local communities and assisting them, using established case management capabilities and other support networks within the Society," he said.

"We know that maintaining a tenancy can be really tough for people who have experienced disadvantage, homelessness and trauma."

ABOUT AMELIE HOUSING

Amélie Housing was established in NSW by the Society of St Vincent de Paul (Society) in 2012 as a special purpose community housing development and management subsidiary company to complement the activities of the Society in providing charitable services to disadvantaged members of Australian society. It is a Registered Tier 2 Community Housing Provider under the National Regulatory System for Community Housing. Amélie seeks to "bring hope through housing" to those who are disenfranchised in our society as a consequence of the lack of safe, secure and affordable housing.