In 2011, UN-Habitat awarded aged care service provider Wintringham a Habitat Scroll of Honour Award at its World Habitat Day ceremony in Aguascalientes, Mexico. The Habitat Scroll of Honour is currently the most prestigious human settlements accolade in the world. Its aim is to acknowledge initiatives which have made outstanding contributions in various fields such

as shelter provision, highlighting the plight of the homeless, leadership in post conflict reconstruction, and developing and improving human settlements and the quality of urban life. 

 

In its commendable work providing unique accommodation options for about 1,000 people each night, Wintringham embodies the two important sides of housing provision. Firstly, by providing affordable and desirable solutions, it addresses the housing needs of a vulnerable and marginalised group in society. Secondly, it has adopted an energetic advocacy role that has seen government policy influenced to include housing for homeless elderly people. As the United Nations Agency for Human settlements, UN-Habitat works on both the implementation and the theory behind housing provision, promoting a human rights perspective to urban development, and it is fitting that its award winners should mirror this approach. 

 

Wintringham represented a number of firsts for UN-Habitat. Not only was it the first time that the award was given to an Australian project but it was also the first time that UN-Habitat recognised an initiative devoted to helping the elderly. We are delighted that the efforts of the people behind the success of Wintringham are celebrated here in The Wintringham Story. 

 

I would like to express congratulations to all of those who have contributed to make the project a reality and our gratitude for their efforts to improve the daily lives of hundreds of citizens. UN-Habitat believes in City Changers and Wintringham is an excellent example to us all. 

 

Dr Joan Clos, Executive Director, UN-Habitat