Our Place SPRING 2017
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Our Place SPRING 2017 INSIDE Anti-Poverty Week 2 Ian’s Story 2 Time to Talk 3 Tenant End of Year Party 3 Spotlight on Building Bridges 4 TAG Update 4 Advance What’s On 6 Scholarships Are you trying to get a job? Do your kids An Advance Scholarship can need some help with school? Or would provide financial support to they like to do some extra-curricular help you achieve your goals. activities you can’t quite afford? You can You can apply for up to now apply for an Advance Scholarship from $1,500 for expenses related Bridge Housing for financial assistance for to education, training, yourself or your children. The Advance employment, school, or kids Scholarships are for residents who want extra-curricular activities. If to improve their job prospects or improve you are interested in applying, their children’s experience of school. come along to our Advance You might be training, studying or involved Scholarship Information in an activity that will help you get a job, Session on Wednesday 11 or will help you improve your career if you October or go to our web Applications are open until November 15. already have a job. We also know that it’s site at www.bridgehousing.org.au/pages/. We strongly encourage you to come along really important for kids to have a good html#advance, read the Guidelines, to the Information Session before you apply. experience of school to improve their and fill out the Application form. education and employment outcomes. General Enquiries - 8324 0800 Advance Scholarships Information Session [email protected] Repairs - 8324 0886 11am Wednesday 11 October [email protected] (we will also run an evening session at 6pm if enough people request it) Housing Pathways Applications Redfern Oval Community Room, Redfern Park 8324 0890 [email protected] 277 Chalmers St Redfern Housing Team & Tenancies Kids corner and light refreshments provided 8324 0885 [email protected] Register your interest at https://bridgeadvancescholarships.eventbrite.com.au or contact Sarah on 8324 0827 or [email protected] Follow us bridgehousing.org.au Anti-Poverty Week Poverty and severe hardship affect more than a million Australians today. This year, Anti-Poverty Week will be held from the 15th to the 21st of October and will help to highlight and overcome issues of poverty and hardship here in Australia and around the world. Bridge Housing and Good Shepherd have teamed up to offer a free, confidential & independent financial counselling service – Money Matters. The financial advisor visits Bridge Housing on the 3rd Thursday of every month and can also meet you for appointments outside this time. Contact Bridge Housing to book your appointment. Call 02 8324 0885 or email [email protected]. Free and Cheap Services Emergency Relief for The Staples Bag Energy Bills Where: 449 Canterbury Rd, Campsie The Energy Accounts Payment When: Monday – Friday 9:30am – Assistance (EAPA) Scheme helps 4:30pm Saturday 10am – 1pm people experiencing a short term The Staples Bag provides basic groceries financial crisis or emergency to pay at a very low price. There are various their electricity or natural gas bill. pick up locations including Parramatta, The vouchers are issued on a one- Blacktown and Glebe. All the details can off basis after an assessment of be found at www.thestaplesbag.org.au. individual circumstances. Contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 to find your nearest EAPA Provider. OzHarvest Market Where: 147 Anzac Parade, Kensington When: 10am – 2pm Monday to Friday Australia’s first ever rescued food supermarket is based on a “take what you need, give what you can” philosophy. The groceries are free or you can give a donation based on what you can afford. Ian recently began working for Mates on Ian’s Story the Move, a social enterprise that helps ex-prisoners get back on their feet through Before becoming a Bridge Housing training and employment. Ian is now studying resident, Ian had experienced the his Cert III in Removals and Warehousing and difficulties of drug addiction, unstable is working part time. Ian has lost 15kg, is going housing and depression. He was to the gym and cooking for himself at home moving house 2 or 3 times a year, after learning how to make healthy meals spent time in jail and was unable through the classes that he attends. “None of to hold down a job because of the this would have been possible without having instability in his life. Ian said “It was a roof over my head. I’m so grateful to Bridge chaos”. But four years ago, all of that Housing” he said. And for the first time, Ian turned around and thanks to Bridge says he is excited about the future, his head Housing, Ian finally had a roof over feels clear and he is now making plans to get his head and a place to call home. his truck license. We wish you all the best, Ian! bridgehousing.org.au 2 Outreach Office Time Times & Locations to Talk Parramatta Outreach 106-108 Church Street In June, tenants from African Parramatta 2150 communities were invited Hours: All Day Tuesday to share their experiences Mill Hill Outreach and views at a Time to Talk Waverley Council workshop. 12 tenants met 1st Floor, 31-33 Spring Street with Bridge Housing staff Bondi Junction 2022 for a great discussion. Hours: Mondays 1.30pm to 4pm Various issues were raised General Manager, Operations, Rebecca Pinkstone including issues about with tenant Cholok Muorwel South Coogee Outreach maintenance and tenants 3 Yamba Place access to local services. The next edition settlement, migrant support services, South Coogee 2034 Hours: Tuesday 9.30am to 12.30pm of the newsletter in December will be advocacy, disability support, employment all about maintenance to address some services and youth support. common maintenance myths highlighted www.ssi.org.au T: 02 8799 6700 at the workshop. Here are some great 2/158 Liverpool Road Ashfield services that are available to tenants who are CEO Update culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD): Metro Assist provides migrant settlement support, family support, Granville Multicultural Community The recent Grenfell fire in the UK emergency relief, tenancy services and the catastrophic loss of life Centre offers a variety of community, and community development. and damage reminds us all of the educational and social activities and importance of fire safety in social services to residents in the local area. This www.metroassist.org.au T: 02 9789 3744 housing. Bridge Housing operates includes English classes, homework help 59-63 Evaline Street Campsie a comprehensive fire safety regime for kids, playgroups, counselling, family The Community Migrant Centre to ensure that all of our tenants support and emergency assistance. can live confidently and safely in provides information, referrals, training their homes. I encourage you all to www.gmcc.org.au T: 02 9637 7600 sessions, support and advocacy carefully read the letter I sent to Block C242, 136 William St Granville to migrants and refugees. tenants in August highlighting Bridge Housing’s responsibilities and your Settlement Services International www.cmrc.com.au T: 02 9687 9901 responsibility as a tenant. Fire Safety provides a range of services for refugee 1 Horwood Place Parramatta is our shared responsibility and if you are experiencing any issues or have any concerns about this, please contact the Bridge Housing repairs line on 02 8324 0886. Our AGM is on again on 22 November 2017. Please save the date in your diaries. John Nicolades, CEO Calling all tenants! You are invited to the tenant end of year party. Every year, this Tenant End great event celebrates tenant volunteers and tenants who are active in their communities. of Year Party This year we are going to the Sydney Sea Life Aquarium at 11am Saturday 2 December. Please book now by calling Ha on 8324 0851 or email [email protected]. Book now! Places are limited so call soon to avoid missing out. 3 Spotlight on Building Bridges It is now 3 years on from when we Advance Scholarships (see the front Your Voice Matters launched Building Bridges in 2014. Over page of this newsletter) Every time you attend a TAG meeting those 3 years we have implemented 84% The projects we have postponed – Rent or complete a feedback survey, email of the projects we said we would – we It Keep It training for new tenants; your housing manager or make a have 6 left to go! Two of those projects and checking out the feasibility of complaint, you are contributing to the we have indefinitely postponed and setting up a volunteer handyperson tenant voice that is heard by all levels four we are currently working on: program - we will reconsider at a of staff and influences our policies, Working on our next tenant survey later date if circumstances allow. procedures, action plans and strategic to improve the response rate One of the positive outcomes of Building planning. Your voice really does matter! for certain groups – Aboriginal Bridges is we now have lots of options If you would like to get involved but people and young people for tenants to get involved with Bridge don’t know where to start, give Francesca Implementing a tenant mentor or Housing - lots of ways for your views and a call on 8324 0844 or email f.cathie@ “buddy” scheme for new tenants voices to be heard at the highest level bridgehousing.org.au. of the organisation, and to have a real Engaging with young tenants from influence over the way we do things. 18 to 24 Your Voice Matters s s A S e s oup bo e r g