UnitingSA’s shuttered Regency Green aged care home in Adelaide has welcomed several refugee families who will use the site for short-term accommodation.
40 rooms at Regency Green will become part of refugee and migrant support organisation AMES Australia’s settlement program, with 12 families expected to move in during the first phase. AMES CEO Cath Scarth has expressed her appreciation for the partnership.
“A safe place to live is one of the critical immediate needs of newly arrived refugees who may be fleeing trauma, violence or conflict.
“This accommodation will be a place from which our refugee clients can start to rebuild their lives in Australia,” she said.
The home was closed in May to make way for a new affordable housing development, and UnitingSA CEO Jenny Hall (pictured) says the provider is happy to put Regency Green to use in the meantime.
“Development plans for the affordable housing precinct are still in the pipeline, and these homes will eventually be part of UnitingSA’s community housing portfolio, which provides around 600 affordable and social housing properties.
“But that will take time, and we are pleased to be able to support AMES Australia and the families they will help through this solution in the interim,” she said.
The other half of Regency Green is being used to temporarily house NDIS participants transitioning out of hospital.
