HousingFirst Ltd

*HousingFirst Resident Story: Meet Kiran* Growing up in a household filled with art and music in India, Kiran is spending her retirement in Melbourne crafting a life dedicated to art and devotion: “Krishna has given me this duty to do this embroidery”. Kiran has a lifetime of connection to Australia. “I worked at the Australian High Commission in New Delhi for 23 years. It was an exciting job, and I really loved it”. Her daughter came to work in Australia, going on to marry and settle here. “I would come and go, as I had my work and a son living in India. But then my daughter got really sick, so I had to come to help. I quit my job five years before retirement”. Her daughter slowly recovered, but “then covid happened and I stayed here. And now I’ve got citizenship. Where I am now, is my home”, she says simply. And for the last year that home has been a compact studio apartment, discreetly tucked down a quiet laneway in St Kilda, around the corner from shops and trams. The building was purpose-built to provide accommodation for women. Kiran appreciates the focus on safety, saying, "it’s all women – no men are allowed to stay here - I’m so safe." In the beginning, there was a transition period in such a small, close community. “One of my neighbours had mental health issues, telling me about her problems”, Kiran says. “I hugged her and gave her food and incense sticks. I’m used to it now – it’s a balance between being neighbourly and being private”. Kiran is an early riser, up before dawn and starting her day with yoga and a daily religious practice of offering flowers and foods to the deities. “30-minute yoga is a must for me – I’m very conscious of keeping myself fit as I get older”, she says. *See Kiran's from last year's resident art exhibition on page 32-33 here: https://lnkd.in/gKyTh-Zc

The next Halcyon Harvest Market is this Friday, 21 March 10-11 am. This initiative is a low-cost fruit and vegetable market operated by Fruition Projects and HousingFirst. Produce is delivered fresh from Yarra Valley Farms.

Our low-cost fruit and vegetable market operated by Housing First and Berengarra School continues to bring fresh produce from the Yarra Valley Farms to residents and the local community in this wonderful partnership. Join us at Pocket Market next Monday 17 March at Ashwood from 10:30-11, and Gowanlea from 1-2 pm. Please bring your shopping bags.

In 2025, we’re proud to publish our Reflect Reconciliation Action Progress Report and to reconfirm our commitment to reconciliation. Since launching our Reflect RAP, we have: - Delivered 38 of 39 deliverables (with the final one a work in progress), laying a strong foundation for meaningful, ongoing action. - Strengthened cross-organisational collaboration and leadership commitment to champion reconciliation in all that we do. As a housing organisation, we recognise the overrepresentation of First Nations peoples experiencing homelessness or living in social housing is a direct result of colonisation and past colonial policies. Our journey is just at the beginning – we are committed to building upon these initiatives and continuing to drive change. A huge thank you to everyone who has contributed to this important work. Please visit our website to view our Reflect Reconciliation Action Progress Report. https://lnkd.in/gt3fmFuA

Thank you to Housing Choices Australia's Hannah Harvey CIHCM for leading our International Women's Day 2025 Celebration. With Jan Berriman GAICD, you provided many personal insights about the challenges women have endured towards improving equality, the victories to date, and what's still required. It was inspiring and thought-provoking in equal measures - for the women and their male allies in the room. #AccelerateAction #internationalwomensday #iwd2025

This wonderful Halcyon Resident shares what's in her shopping bag from her haul at Halcyon Harvest Markets launched in January this year, including sweet potato, beans, carrots, and celery for a roast, followed by some fresh mango and raspberries! 

Work is moving ahead to build more and better homes at Walker Street in Northcote, thanks to our partnership with MAB Corporation and not-for-profit community housing provider @HousingFirst 🏡    This project is delivering 99 social homes and 151 market homes, bringing modern, sustainable and energy efficient homes and outdoor spaces to the community, with completion expected by mid-2025.   Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gTq_tzuW

*HousingFirst Resident Story: Meet Kay* A couple of years ago, in her early 70s, Kay worked part-time and rented a comfortable house in Melbourne’s southeast, where she lived for nearly a decade. Then, just two things changed: her landlord owners decided to sell, and Kay needed major surgery. “With one of my hands out of action, I had to give up work and move in with my sister”, says Kay. “I was looking for a rental I could afford. I didn’t realise just how bad the rental market was, I found myself standing in lines that were 20 to 40 people deep." Kay had also applied for public housing at a different time in her life: “When I was 22, I just had my baby, and my husband was in Vietnam. I was given a Commission flat in Fitzroy and stayed there for 12 months – with a new baby it was a godsend”. Kay was told it might be a two-year wait this time. Five months later she moved into a new complex in Preston. This one-bed apartment has “changed my life, because I don’t want to move out of this place. I’m not frightened of anything anymore”. Kay’s rent is now $250, which is set at 30% of her income, but “nothing could be as bad as paying $450 per week”. Kay also pays for electricity, hot water, phone, and internet, but it's manageable, and the flat is secure, stable and comfortable. Jackson – a fluffy, deaf, 14-year-old Maltese poodle – is Kay’s constant companion. That HousingFirst includes pets in the application process was so important to Kay. “I’d be lost without him”, she says.  Kay will be able to age in place if needed, as doors are wide enough for a wheelchair, and there are no trip hazards: no steps in the bathroom, and the whole flat is one level. “There’s nothing in this place that I don’t like – it’s magic”. "HousingFirst", says Kay, “is really terrific, and the staff go out of their way to help you. There's someone to ring if I need it – they arranged an electrician who arrived an hour after I rang them”.

We welcome the first month of Autumn with these beautiful works from last year's resident art exhibition by Darryl and Dorotea.

Was great to talk to Tom this morning with Danny Pearson and Kat Theophanous MP at the HousingFirst Ltd Preston development. The on site art gallery was a great showcase for our residents art displays. HousingFirst provides high-quality tenancy and property management services across two rejuvenated Homes Victoria sites in Preston, and North Melbourne, with Northcote to follow soon. Eventually, HousingFirst will manage 274 public homes and own and manage a further 64 community housing properties · Across all three sites, social housing stock will increase by 50 per cent above its previous supply. · HousingFirst also has an onsite office at the Preston location. #socialhousing #partnerships #housingforall