by Rochelle | Aug 9, 2021 | All
With the current exposure in Hunter/New England and potential exposure in both Mudgee and Dubbo the Housing Plus EPC met this morning (Monday 9 August) to discuss the current COVID-19 situation and how to minimise risk to our staff, customers and clients.
Housing Plus will take the following actions to ensure everyone safety:
- Our staff in Hunter/New England are now in lockdown as per NSW Government Health order and our staff in those areas will continue working remotely
- Our Mudgee office will close for this week (Monday 9 – Sunday 15 August). We will continue to be operational, we ask that our customers call or email their housing officer directly and please continue to log any maintenance issues
- Our Dubbo office currently remains open as normal (with current requirements for masks and social distancing in place). We will continue to monitor the situation and will update based on our further advice from NSW Government / NSW Health. We ask that our customers call or email their housing officer directly to book an appointment before coming into the office
- No travel between offices
- Orange and Bathurst offices remain open, however we do ask our customers and clients to call ahead where possible and make an appointment
- Housing Plus would like to recognise and thank our staff who are and have been in lockdown in Greater Sydney for the last 6 weeks
We will continue to monitor the situation and updates will be provided as necessary.
by Rochelle | Aug 1, 2021 | All
This week is Homelessness Week 2021 and Housing Plus are hoping to use Homelessness Week to engage with the leaders of our local community on the issues impacting homelessness and what needs to be done to support the most vulnerable into long-term and safe housing by providing more affordable housing.
We are also asking everyone to show their support for the vulnerable members of our communities by signing the Everybody’s Home petition advocating for more funding for affordable housing.
by Rochelle | Aug 1, 2021 | All
This week is Homelessness Week and never has there been a greater demand for support of these vulnerable members of our community.
In 2020-21 Housing Plus saw 1,456 people seeking homelessness support. This is an increase of 5% on the previous year, in part as the lack of affordable housing in the Region becomes more acute.
“Renters, first time homebuyers and people who just need a safe roof over their heads are finding it increasingly difficult to do so in Orange. Despite Housing Plus providing some 22 new homes in the city since 2019 with a further 10 planned, there has been a net decrease in properties available for rent that are affordable” says David Fisher, CEO of Housing Plus.
Over the past 12 months there has been a substantial increase in the number of “No Grounds 90 Days Terminations” being issued to tenants across Orange, Cabonne and Blayney. Housing Plus’s Homelessness Service Team are seeing people who have been in those tenancies for up to 25 years and are aged in their seventies, being issued with these termination notices. “Many of these tenants have not had to view or apply for a rental during that time and with the lack of rental properties across the region many are facing homelessness through no fault of their own. A desperate situation for older people in our community to face” says David Fisher
90 Days No Grounds Terminations are often used by landlords as a legal means for them to terminate a rental agreement and remove the current tenant so they can conduct renovations and then increase the asking price of the rent.
Housing Plus also provides housing support services to our community in Orange with Social and affordable housing demand also increasing over the last 12 months. Currently there are over 300 people on the wait list in Orange with a wait time of 2-5 years for a 1, 2 or 3-bedroom property or 5-10 year wait for a 4+ bedroom property, meaning often people are spending a large portion of their lives at risk of homelessness.
“Last month Orange had only two properties available for rent at levels we could afford to provide for homeless clients” says Penny Dordoy, Head of Community Services for Housing Plus.
For those who are at risk of homelessness, Housing Plus can assist in several ways. Penny says, “We provide crisis and transitional housing to people that are already homeless, but we also help to prevent homelessness by supporting people to sustain their tenancy. We actually prefer to start working with people at this point, before they get to the situation where homelessness is a serious risk for them, their outcomes are generally better if we are able to provide this early intervention support.”
Homelessness facts and stats
- Orange Homelessness Service supported 1,456 people in 2020/21; 819 of whom were women, 637 whom were men, including 433 people who were seeking help have been diagnosed with a mental health condition.
- The 2016 Census found that there were 116,000 Australians experiencing homelessness on Census night and that NSW has the highest rate of homelessness in the country.
- Over half of people presenting at services cite family violence or relationship breakdown as a reason for seeking assistance.
- Homelessness has grown by 13.7% in the last four years
- 40% of people who are homeless are under 25 years of age
- 6% of people who are homeless actually sleep on the streets
- A recent report by Equity Economics, commissioned by the Community Housing Industry Association NSW, forecasts the benefits of building 5,000 extra social housing dwellings each year. The modelling shows the investment would also see 750 fewer people entering homelessness each year, creating cost savings of $13 million in avoided health and social services costs.
About Homelessness Week
Homelessness Week is an annual, nation-wide campaign to highlight the work of the homelessness sector and recognise barriers to ending homelessness across Australia.
It is an opportunity to raise awareness about why people become homeless, the effect on individuals and the community.
by Rochelle | Jul 29, 2021 | All
Housing Plus are proud to advertise 1 x 1 bedroom unit and 8 x 2 bedroom units in Havannah Street Bathurst.
These are brand new units which will be available in late-August 2021.
1 Bedroom Unit Affordable Rent* for $200 per week – 1 available
2 Bedroom Unit Affordable Rent * for $240 per week – 8 available
The development has been built to a 7-star rating under the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme. These units are available as affordable rental homes, so eligibility criteria applies.
These homes have built in robes, plenty of living space with open plan kitchen/dining/living area. In the kitchen you will find a electric cooktop and oven. With low maintenance back yard, this could be the perfect new home for you.
HOW TO APPLY
- To apply please complete the Affordable Housing Waitlist Application Form and email it to us at tenancy@housingplus.com.au
- We then assess your application to see if you meet the eligibility criteria.
- If you do meet the eligibility criteria you will be notified that you have been added to the Waitlist for affordable rental properties.
- When the properties are available for viewing, if you have met the Eligibility criteria, and the property meets your needs you will be invited to view the property.
*Eligibility criteria applies
by Rochelle | Jul 27, 2021 | All
With the NSW Government announcement that the current ‘Stay at Home’ order for Orange, Cabonne and Blayney LGA’s will be lifted at 12:01 tonight (Wednesday 28th July 2021) the Housing Plus Bathurst and Orange offices will re-open tomorrow, Wednesday 28 July.
We do still ask all our customers and clients to phone ahead to make an appointment prior to attending any of our offices so we can ensure social distancing and 4m2 per person.
We will also be continuing with COVID safe practices and requirements under the NSW Government Health order remain in place.
They include:
- Compulsory mask wearing in the indoors/workplace
- QR code check-ins
- 4 square meters per person and 1.5 meters social distancing
- Hand hygiene
We would like to thank our customers, clients and staff for their understanding and flexibility. If you have any questions please contact us on: 1800 603 300 or email info@housingplus.com.au
by Rochelle | Jul 20, 2021 | All
NSW Health has placed Orange, Cabonne and Blayney into a one week lockdown from 12.01am Wednesday 21 July.
Housing Plus will continue to operate however our Orange and Bathurst offices are closed. We will continue to have skeleton staff in our Orange office to support clients in crisis. Our tenancy, maintenance and community services will operate remotely and our customers and clients will be contacted by their Housing Officer or service lead tomorrow.
Our Mudgee, Dubbo, Broken Hill and Parkes offices will continue to operate as they have over the last 2-3 weeks, again we ask all our customers and clients to phone ahead prior to attending any of our offices.
All Emergency maintenance will continue, please log all repairs: Report a Repair: 1300 435 144
Further information will be released on Wednesday 21 July.
If you have any questions please contact your Housing OfficeR directly or call us on 1800 603 300 or email info@housingplus.com.au
by Rochelle | Jul 19, 2021 | All
We continue to operate however with an increase in potential exposure sites across the Central West Housing Plus is taking a precautionary approach to ensure the safety and health our staff, customers and clients.
We have NO staff effected and continue to ask all our customers and clients to phone ahead prior to attending any of our offices. Our homelessness and domestic and family violence services are operational.
Our Orange and Bathurst offices will operate on skeleton frontline staff. Our Mudgee, Dubbo, Broken Hill and Parkes offices will continue to operate as they have over the last 2-3 weeks, again we ask all our customers and clients to phone ahead prior to attending any of our offices.
Routine inspections and non-urgent maintenance scheduled for this will be postponed, and our Housing Officers will contact you directly to re-schedule if you have appointments this week.
All Emergency maintenance will continue as will our property viewings and lease sign-ups.
If you have any questions please contact us on: 1800 603 300 or email info@housingplus.com.au
by Rochelle | Jul 1, 2021 | All
Welcome to the latest news from Housing Plus.
Click here for our Winter 2021 Newsletter
The team at Housing Plus hopes you are keeping safe and well by following the current NSW COVID restrictions. Our offices remain open, however to assist us to maintain our services during this time, please phone your local office or contact your Housing Officer directly to schedule an appointment prior to attending a Housing Plus office.
If you have any questions in relation to Housing Plus’s current COVID-19 guidelines or anything in our Winter Newsletter, please contact us.
by Rochelle | Jun 28, 2021 | All
We remain open and are continuing operations during this time however to minimise the risk of exposure to COVID-19 to our tenants, clients, staff and community Housing Plus has introduced the following guidelines from 28th June.
If you have any questions, please call 1800 603 300 or email info@housingplus.com.au
- If you, a family member or household visitor have been in the Greater Sydney region (including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour) on or after 21st June please remain at home for 14 days after you left Greater Sydney and follow Health NSW advice
- If you need to visit us, we ask that you make an appointment. Please do this by calling or emailing us before attending one of our offices as we are working on skeleton office staff to ensure we are maintaining social distancing (one person per four square metre rule)
- Masks are mandatory in all offices including staff
- Checking in via QR codes is mandatory
- People should only enter the Greater Sydney region for essential purposes
- If you have any signs or symptoms of cold or flu including a runny nose, sore throat or fever please get tested and remain at home until you have received your test result and follow Health NSW Advice
- If you are yet to register yourself for the COVID-19 vaccination you can check your eligibility and register via this link: Getting vaccinated | NSW Government
Housing Plus Tenants
For all enquiries regarding your tenancy, including rental payments please call your local office
Orange Ph 1800 603 300
Bathurst Ph 6331 7059
Mudgee Ph 6372 7816
We are asking where possible email or telephone are used to communicate. If you require assistance any of our team members can help you.
Domestic Violence Services
If you are experiencing domestic violence and it is an emergency, call 000. Alternatively, women can call the Housing Plus domestic violence services.
We are asking where possible email or telephone are used to communicate. If you require assistance any of our team members can help you.
Call us on 1300 38 4357 (1300 DV HELP) or send us an email dv@housingplus.com.au
Homelessness Services
If you or someone you know are homeless or at risk of being homeless please call 1800 674 474 or email us on hsm@housingplus.com.au
Our Orange office at 113 Byng Street will remain open and we have a team on site. We are asking where possible email or telephone are used to communicate so we can limit face to face contact during this time. If you require assistance any of our team members can help you.
After hours — Link2home 1800 152 152
by Rochelle | Apr 14, 2021 | News
On the move to Boyd Street
Housing Plus has relocated all our existing Bathurst based tenancy and community services to our new premises at 61 Boyd Street.
These include tenancy and maintenance services, Opportunity Pathways, which supports social housing clients to access practical and financial assistance, training, and work opportunities to help them prepare for employment, find a job, work more hours, or improve their employment options.
The Bathurst and Lithgow Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service will also operate from Boyd Street.
The new premises contain meeting, conference, and event facilities for up to 60 people, we encourage community groups and service providers to get in touch with us if they would like to use this space for meetings and client appointments, please contact us via email bathurst@housingplus.com.au
