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A decade in the making, the Highlands first transitional home for people living with disabilities has opened.
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Potential residents Shelly, Eddie and Becky cut the official ribbon to Challenge House on Friday, October 27.
Challenge House is a 10-bedroom home on the corner of Cook and Anne Streets in Mittagong that aims to help adult children who are currently living with their parent(s) transition to live independently.
Those who live in the house will be given training in general living skills, like cooking and cleaning, to prepare them for life in mainstream accommodation.
After a 12 to 18-month period, the residents will be re-housed by Argyle Community Housing.
The house has been set up by Challenge Southern Highlands, a community based charity that provides supported employment for people living with a disabilities.
President of Challenge Southern Highlands, Rob Aistrope, said the house was the ultimate charity project.
“We’ve had great support from so many members of the community. Many people gave us far more than it would normally have cost us, and sacrificed the income they would normally have gotten on another project,” he said.
Over 40 organisations donated time and money toward the project, which has been under construction for 18 months.
Mr Aistrope said there are also plans to build a small community garden on the site next door to the Mittagong property, “to engage the local community and provide fruit and vegetables and a source of interest for the people living here”.
The house cost $1.8 million to build but expenses blew out because of changes to the building code of Australia and various other complications, including the creek that ran through the site.
“There is something like 250 piers underneath this building to get down to the rock underneath it,” Mr Aistrope said.
The project was supported by a $400,000 council grant and land donation, and a $900,000 state government Restart NSW grant.
Each room has its own ensuite, while the house has a communal kitchen and dining area, a lounge and breakout room, and an onsite caretakers residence.
The residents will be supported to prepare meals, maintain their surrounds, and live with other people.
“The need [for this house] is continuing. It’s [currently] unmet and probably will never be fully met, but we can do our part,” Mr Aistrope said.
Challenge House will be available for rent from November 1.
