The award recognises the Foundation’s exemplary leadership in advancing housing security across Greater Melbourne and for being a driving force in tackling housing inequity particularly for women, young people, and people experiencing disadvantage. “We are thrilled that this award has acknowledged our support for good research, the critical role of the Foundation as first funder, and the value of design excellence,” said the Foundation’s Chair, Janina Gawler, on accepting the award. “We are even more pleased that these developments are able to provide quality homes to residents.”
Foundation Board Chair Janina Gawler accepts the Prize from the Australian Institute of Architects. Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation has a longstanding commitment to alleviating homelessness and supporting people into well-located, sustainable, well-designed, safe and affordable housing. In awarding the Prize, Australian Institute of Architects recognised the Foundation’s work supporting innovative projects that address both immediate housing needs and longer-term systemic change.
President of the Victorian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects David Wagner, pictured with the Foundation's Senior Program Manager - Homelessness & Affordable Housing Erin Dolan and Foundation Board Chair Janina Gawler. The Institute highlighted the Foundation’s role as first funder – enabling projects to be tested, designed and costed for their feasibility to demonstrate their positive impact and become a replicable model for other initiatives. It also recognised the Foundation’s advocacy for repurposing underutilised land and being an aggregator of philanthropic and government support, as shown in its Affordable Housing Challenge Initiative, launched in 2017. In the 2023/2024 Financial Year, the Foundation’s Homelessness & Affordable Housing Impact Area distributed $2.355 million in grants. Completed projects that have been supported include Make Room, due to open next month, Viv’s Place, Townhall Avenue Preston, Ozanam House redevelopment and Nightingale’s Brunswick Village. Learn more about the Foundation’s Homelessness & Affordable Housing Impact Area.