A NEW home and new beginnings will greet 90 tenants at the Templeton Street 44-unit complex from Monday.
The development by D5 Build was officially opened on Friday by Victorian Minister for Housing Harriet Shing and Northern Victoria MP and Treasurer Jaclyn Symes, and Uniting Vic Tas.
It's the first of its kind in Wangaratta and regional Victoria for Uniting Vic Tas, in terms of scale and multi-storey features, and it was made possible by $13.5m under the state government's Big Housing Build.
The new homes meet the Silver Liveability Housing Standard, meaning they are designed to meet the changing needs with one, two and three bedroom units.
They are also 4 star certified Green Star and have a 7-star NatHERS rating, reducing the cost of energy bills.
Uniting CEO Bronwyn Pike said they are proud to complete the first community housing development and contribute to increasing the supply of affordable homes in regional Victoria.
"Over five years ago we committed to redevelop this site and replace ageing buildings, which were no longer fit for purpose, with a new, modern community housing development," she said.
"By utilising our existing resources and access to available land we have successfully leverage government funding to provide 44 brand new homes for vulnerable individuals, families and older people."
Ms Pike read out a quote from a renter to the crowd which included local, state and federal government dignitaries.
"It will be nice to have a secure home in a central location where it will be easy to access the social aspect, my GP and other medical needs. It's much easier to attend to those things when you know you have a home to go to," the renter said.
Ms Pike thanked Wangaratta Uniting Church member Geoff Dinning for the work he put in to making the project possible and described him as a trooper.
Ms Shing thanked Uniting for the partnership and the $4.8m which they contributed to the development.
She said $57m has been invested in Wangaratta for 170 homes to address the needs of people most in need.
"Seventy-five per cent of the homes at the new facility will be going to people on the priority housing waitlist," she said.
"This is about transformation of lives, opportunity and making sure nobody is left behind."
Ms Symes said the units are in close proximity to amenities and services and it's a wonderful location.
"This is going to be home to a variety of people who are going to have a wonderful experience in this beautiful facility," she said.
"Priority housing for people who are survivors of family violence are the types of people who are going to benefit from this investment."
The development is composed principally of two buildings, which are breezeway buildings that have a central open corridor.
The buildings front Templeton Street and look on to the river beyond and one of the ideas behind a breezeway building is to promote community living.