Spotlight on: Evolve Housing

A $32 million AHBA loan was then provided through a bond issuance after construction was completed which supported the delivery of 93 affordable homes. 

The mixed tenure housing development is part of the NSW Government’s Future Directions Initiatives to increase social housing supply. The development, spread across four buildings, includes 376 new homes, of which 63 are social, 93 are affordable (including seven accessible), and 220 are private market rental. The project also includes a 60-place childcare centre in the affordable housing building. 

Lyall Gorman, CEO, Evolve Housing said ‘Our partnership with Housing Australia has provided us with stable, long-term financing with relatively lower interest rates that allows our business to grow the supply of social and affordable housing across Australia.

'The lower interest rates and longer tenor of the loan has aided in the financial sustainability of our investment. It has allowed us to be better placed to fulfill our purpose of enabling more people in need to live in quality homes in thriving and inclusive communities, while delivering more social and affordable housing, support programs and overall services to our residents.’

‘Didn’t think it could happen to me,' says Andy*. When asked about finding a home with Evolve Housing, the first thing Andy will tell you is that he’s “grateful and happy to be here”. After becoming homeless with only the clothes he was wearing and his dirt bike, Andy is grateful for the journey that brought him to Evolve Housing. 

Andy was sleeping in friends’ cars just to keep warm at night when found by his police officer friend and taken to Link2Home, a service providing homelessness support and accommodation services in NSW.

Andy knew this wasn’t the life he wanted to lead and wanted to make his three children proud. He was paced in temporary accommodation for three months where he created a rental history to improve his chances of finding a home to rent. He was then connected to a case worker from Evolve Housing’s Together Home program, which provides housing and support services to people who are sleeping rough or who are, or have recently been, living in temporary accommodation.

‘I met my case worker within a month of staying at the temporary accommodation and he told me they had a place for me. When I moved, he helped me by taking me to the dentist, showing me where to get food and sorting out my driver’s license,’ said Andy.

In July 2023, Andy moved to a new social housing complex managed by Evolve Housing on behalf of Homes NSW.

‘With Evolve Housing’s support, I have a lounge, I have nice clothes… my children are back in my life. I am happy to be here, and I wouldn’t have it any other way,’ said Andy.

*Name withheld to protect privacy of tenant.