They say many hands make light work. And that concept is perfectly captured in this inspiring charity build, spearheaded by WA-based building company TR Homes and the HIA Charitable Foundation (HIACF).

The finished home will be sold with proceeds going to the HIA Charitable Foundation (HIACF). It’s an incredibly special project that has succeeded thanks to the generosity of spirit and comradeship that forms the backbone of the housing industry. 

‘This project has created a vehicle for the industry to be able to give back to its own industry and wider community, where people need a hand up,’ says Pino Monaco, who has been Chair of HIACF from 2019. 

The Foundation’s mandate is to support the health and wellbeing of all housing industry professionals, which includes asbestos research, raising $1.4 million for Beyond Blue’s mental health intervention programs, and $100,000 to support the Tradie Health Institute’s research into occupational health issues like silicosis. 

Helping from the heart

‘I see my role as prodding our member’s consciousness to issues other than building houses,’ says Pino, who is also a practising lawyer. ‘So, they think about and participate in the heart issues.’

As part of this, HIACF coordinates numerous fundraising initiatives that HIA members can participate in every year – think golf days, gala events and workplace giving. In 2015/16, the Foundation worked with Stockland and Dale Alcock Homes to deliver its first charity home, the sale of which funded a Beyond Blue suicide prevention program.

Pino says the Foundation has been wanting to replicate the success of the first charity home, but recent escalations in building costs have made this a more challenging proposition. Then he had another idea: one with the potential to both raise money and showcase affordable housing solutions to a wider market.

‘I took an interest in modular homes and their potential to resolve several housing issues, especially during a time when the nation is facing a housing crisis,’ he says. Pino, together with HIACF committee member Alwyn Even, brought the idea to Roger Piggott, General Manager of TR Homes.

‘Roger, who’s a very special member of HIA, did not require much convincing. It was clear to me that his company’s generosity was of the highest order,’ Pino says.

The modern modular solution

TR Homes specialises in designing and building modular homes for regional and remote areas in WA, where access to builders can be limited. Their award-winning homes, which range in size from one to five bedrooms, are architecturally designed, feature high-quality specifications, and are engineered for specific site conditions. Each home is built in the TR Homes production yard before being transported and installed on site.

‘Building offsite means that we’re able to completely manage the build from start to finish and ensure the highest quality control at all stages of construction,’ Roger Piggott says.

‘Other benefits include faster construction times, lower costs and increased energy efficiency. This means that modular homes are a cost-effective and efficient solution for customers who usually face time delays and costly fees when building – particularly in remote and regional areas, but also in suburban areas.’

Working together

After many phone calls and lots of planning, construction on the HIACF Charity Home began late last year.

The home chosen from TR Homes’ design portfolio is The Donnelly – a one-bedroom, one-bathroom granny flat measuring 59 square metres with raked ceilings, verandah, semi-ensuite, and a laundry nook. Its versatile design and high-level finish are guaranteed to offer broad market appeal and spark plenty of interest from potential buyers. ‘It’s a perfect solution for rural properties, investment portfolios, or accommodating extended family,’ Roger says.

Getting the house up while keeping costs down has been a huge team effort, with Roger and TR Homes’ Sales and Business Development Manager, Nathan Hollis, working closely with the HIACF team to source donations from local suppliers and trades. Roger describes the response and the support they received as ‘extraordinary’.

Nathan Hollis suggests this is because the cause resonates with so many housing professionals. ‘We were just picking up the phone and explaining how their help and support could benefit the project. It’s symptomatic of modern life that everyone's sort of been touched by mental health. There was a connection and they wanted to help.’

Nathan adds that support came from right across the industry – from big names such as BlueScope, James Hardie, Jason Windows and Taubmans, right through to local businesses that work alongside TR Homes each day. ‘Carpenter Cabinets, who did all the cabinetry; AirElecTech, which did all the electrical and air conditioning; and Centreside Plumbing – they're small, independently run businesses. But everybody deserves a mention.’ (Check out a full list of suppliers below.)

‘With the generosity of suppliers, it’s been up-specced,’ Nathan says. These premium upgrades – ranging from stone benchtops through to external cladding – are a nice point of difference that certainly add to the home’s ultimate saleability.

Challenges and rewards

With Nathan overseeing the logistics, construction has progressed quickly and the home will be ready for auction by the end of March. As well as benefiting the broader community, Nathan believes that this iteration of The Donnelly is proving to be a small but mighty tool, working overtime to also shine a spotlight on the potential of modular housing.

‘It’s showcasing modular, dispelling a myth. Modular housing may not be a silver bullet, but it's a viable option. It's another string to the bow to help address affordability, housing shortages, those sorts of things,’ he says. ‘To be able to personally help is rewarding. I think again that connection back to industry – this is something that will benefit HIA members and people who work within the industry in the short and the long term.’

Pino Monaco agrees, saying: ‘It is very satisfying to think that by building and selling a modular home, we are contributing to solving the provision of a home and shelter for someone and that some of the money from the sale will go towards funding valuable mental health services and medical research into silicosis for our members.

‘We are extremely grateful to all those businesses and trades that donated their time, skill and products.’

Want to know more?

The HIACF Charity Home is currently located in the TR Homes Display Village in Maddington, WA. Once it’s sold, TR Homes will arrange delivery to the lucky owner’s chosen location anywhere in WA. To view the home or find out more visit TR Homes website.

Thank you

HIACF thanks all the companies who have generously donated materials and services to make the HIA Charity Home build possible.