Housing News SPRING 2020
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
MID NORTH COAST NSW Housing News SPRING 2020 Jonathan moving into Taree apartment Meeting with Be Connected Opening of apartments in Taree Supportive transitional housing opens in Taree Mission Australia Our chaplain, Robyn Housing Officer, Kim Minett Housing who can provide Housing opened a Richardson reminded us showed a unit to a potential our most vulnerable complex of seven that, ‘A house becomes a tenant immediately citizens with access to newly renovated units home when there’s love and following the opening who affordable transitional in Taree earlier this how blessed we are to have gratefully accepted. Kim accommodation.’ year for people in this opportunity to support said, ‘It’s very exciting to be And, our very need of transitional people to start new lives working in partnership with first resident, with love.’ Samaritans Homelessness support. The partnership Jonathan said, Glenn Hutchinson from our Services. We’ll have all the ‘I’m very happy with Samaritans Homeless units tenanted by next week.’ Services in Taree Assets and Maintenance to be here. offers transitional case Team discussed the journey Jo, case worker, Transitional I love the location, it’s management support of transforming these once Accommodation said, ‘The very comfortable, and I’m to some of our most hotel units into self-contained Samaritans team in Taree is very grateful.’ (pictured vulnerable people moving homes, ‘It’s been nothing pleased to be in partnership above left) out of crisis situations. short than a labour of love.’ with Mission Australia Gain new skills through TAFE NSW fee-free short courses – a new partnership between Mission Australia Housing and TAFE NSW TAFE NSW is proud to partner Learn new skills to last For further with Mission Australia Housing a lifetime! information, please If you’re interested in participating in to offer a number of fee-free contact your one or more of these courses please short courses exclusively for Community Top the class! complete the online survey from this Development MAH tenants. link tafensw.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/ Officer, Jesse on 1800 269 672. There’s a diverse range of courses form/SV_3rg7L8VDfDf847z or scan available including; Using Word and the QR code. The cut-off date for *Final classes subject to interest Excel, Computers for Beginners, Basic registering your interest is Friday, by location Horticulture Skills, Growing Food in 9 October 2020. Mature age scholarship Small Spaces, Responsible Service of TAFE NSW are also kicking off a new Alcohol and Responsible Conduct of initiative for unemployed and recently Gambling, Intro to Welding, Chainsaw made redundant NSW residents aged Trim and Cut, Digital Marketing, Scan this over 35 years. It’s called the mature Espresso Coffee Making and Intro QR code age scholarship. to Aged Care.* Eligible participants can enrol into a Cert II, III or IV qualification and for CONTACT US free. You can find out more from the TAFE NSW website tafensw.edu.au/ Mission Australia Housing hotline: 1800 269 672 mature-age-workers 1/39 Gordon Street, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450 missionaustralia.com.au/housing Facebook/MissionAustraliaHousingMNCNSW From our Executive Stepping out new processes that allow for physical distancing, like reduced staff of winter and numbers on site, trialling and testing new technologies including phone into spring! inspections and connecting with you on Facebook. I thank you for your patience Tenants have been working and perseverance as we work harder to together to see Coffs Harbour’s get these right. At the same time, I hope newest community garden we can all embrace these challenges and flourish with Mission Australia Spring has sprung! changes as a positive new way forward. Housing’s support to improve a Spring is a time of growth and there Despite these challenges, I really enjoyed shared recreational space. certainly has been a lot of planning for celebrating our one year Anniversary Federal Member for Cowper, this with all the exciting garden projects of the Coffs Harbour office opening Pat Conaghan joined 20 other across our housing communities. With with staff, although from Sydney and guests at one of our garden roof top gardens at Common Ground over Skype. We also announced the openings a few months ago, in Sydney, garden competitions from exciting new development under way on ‘It was touching to see not Blacktown to the Blue Mountains, and Duke Street, Coffs Harbour that will only how the garden had been community gardens popping up across see 40 new single studio apartments improved through care, but the Mid North Coast of NSW. and services for the local community. how it had brought the local What a great way to start a new season Down the road in Taree we celebrated residents together and had in our own backyards after what has opening seven new apartments that given them a shared purpose,’ been a very challenging past 6 months people like Jonathan (pictured on the he said. ‘I congratulate for all of us! front page) can now call home. Mission Australia Housing Spring is usually the time we come out of Thank you to all who participated in the and the NSW Government for hibernation and look forward to outdoor Impact Measurement Survey we held in funding the project and all the events and activities. With COVID-19 May and now the Annual Tenant Survey local residents who worked becoming a major part of our daily lives, through CHIA. These surveys are very together to make it happen.’ thinking and planning, we need to make important in telling us how we can better The renovated garden sure we are all taking the right actions so improve our services to you, in your features raised garden beds to that you, your communities and our staff home and around your community. I am encourage people to garden, remain safe and healthy at all times. This pleased that we can share some of the a seating area for garden means some of our activities need to Impact Measurement Survey results be postponed with you in this newsletter. meetings and reflection, improved garden beds, a or delivered It is with great excitement that we say wheelchair accessible path, differently in goodbye to winter and hello to a new tool sheds, fruit trees and line with NSW season which I hope brings health and bush medicine. Interested in Government happiness to you all. expectations. gardening? Contact Jesse on 1800 269 672, ext 3 for MNC, This may feel frustrating at then ext 1 for Community Community Chris Bratchford times as we Development. gardens across Executive, Mission Australia Housing the MNC implement Greening gardens across the MNC Across the MNC, we’re excited to have in Coffs Harbour, he’s keen to visit us the opportunity to learn new gardening frequently from Forster to Coffs once tips and advice from Brenden. the pandemic restrictions lift. ‘For tenants, gathering at the garden He’s even suggested some small and nurturing their own gardening online group classes or meeting at skills is an inclusive way of fostering a local regional garden. connection so that everyone can grow If you’re interested and want more together. You don’t even need a lot info, call Jesse, your Community of space or direct sun, small gardens Development Officer on 1800 work well too with a variety of plants,’ 269 672, ext 3 for MNC then 1 for Brenden from the Royal Botanical said Brenden. Community Development. Garden of Sydney’s Community While Brenden had the opportunity to rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/learn/ Greening Program with Bev visit a few gardens in MAH complexes community-greening Thinking about Join us on Facebook/MissionAustralia quitting smoking? HousingMNCNSW for all your local community announcements, events The MNC Local Health Department promotion and activities. We will still provide this team offers weekly, online community support groups on quitting smoking. Online groups information via letters and posters in your cover how to use Nicotine Replacement Therapy and community notice board. managing cravings. Email Melinda Ricketts to find out more at [email protected] New housing and community services for Coffs Harbour Mission Australia has a long-term purchased and construction of commitment to the people of 40 single studio apartments will the Mid North Coast. This year, commence soon! will see the start of an exciting Mission Australia Housing was project with new housing and visited by The Governor General, services to support the local His Excellency, David Hurley and Her community. Land on Duke Street Excellency, Mrs Linda Hurley to discuss in Coffs Harbour has already been the plan in March. They shared their enthusiasm for Mission Australia’s efforts to reduce homelessness across the Mid North Coast. MAH Regional Manager, Charoah Evans said, “Mission Australia Housing Duke St apartments artist impression is not just about delivering more housing properties. It’s about creating needed social and affordable housing homes for people and a thriving in Coffs Harbour, and will also support self-supportive community. The a community with opportunities construction of 40 one-bedroom units for people to connect with services, will contribute to the stock of much activities and each other, which is Left to right: His Excellency, The Governor an important part of the journey to General David Hurley, Jesse Taylor, Community Development Officer, Mid North Coast NSW, long-term independence for many Her Excellency, Mrs Linda Hurley residents.” It is important to our community’s health and Stop the spread wellbeing to let your Housing Officer know if you take a 1800 650 890 eheadspace 1800 737 732 COVID-19 test. provides free online and telephone (1800RESPECT) National sexual support and counselling to young assault, domestic and family violence There’s a lot of mixed messaging in people aged 12–25 and their families counselling and information referral the media and social media, so we and friends.