Real estate agent offers to repair 20 public housing homes for free

Canberra real estate agent Jonny Warren is leading an ambitious project to renovate 20 vacant public housing homes in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) before Christmas. Warren, who has personal experience with homelessness after battling addiction, aims to provide much-needed housing for those in need.

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For something that was just sort of an idea ... to put something out to help the people that are struggling out on the streets, we've just been so overwhelmed with the support.

The initiative has garnered significant support, with numerous tradespeople volunteering their time and skills. Warren expressed being overwhelmed by the community's response to his campaign, which seeks to address the critical shortage of available public housing. The ACT government currently has over 580 vacant public housing properties, with a substantial number requiring repairs and maintenance before they can be occupied.

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It's not massive works, but they're just houses that are just sitting there and just need those final little touches to get people into these housing properties.

While the project focuses on essential upgrades like deep cleaning, painting, and replacing fixtures, Housing All Australians ACT Chair Jo Farrell stressed the importance of ensuring quality and dignity for future residents. Independent MLA Thomas Emerson is backing Warren's plan and urging the government to collaborate on the renovations. The urgency is underscored by a public housing waitlist of approximately 3,650 approved applicants, facing wait times of over five months for priority housing and more than five years for standard housing.

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It's around doing the right thing for the people that want to live there and live there long-term, so they can get their lives back on track.