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Housing Plus announce new CEO

Housing Plus announce new CEO

The board of Housing Plus has appointed Justin Cantelo to the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO).  

Justin has a demonstrated commitment to Housing Plus, having commenced with the organisation in April 2015 as a Business Development and Innovation Manager, before moving into the role of Director of Strategy and Business Development and most recently, holding the position of Director of Development. 

Justin is a dynamic and authentic leader with over 17 years-experience in senior management and executive roles. Throughout his career and time at Housing Plus, he has built strong strategic partnerships, working within the regional community services and community housing sectors to deliver common strategic outcomes, including large-scale affordable housing and community services contracts for the region. 

Brad Cam, Chair for Housing Plus, says, “Since joining Housing Plus, Justin has been a high-achieving member of the team, leading significant and sustainable growth for the business, winning several large government contracts and building key strategic relationships, which has led to a three-fold increase in gross revenue, four-fold increase in staff, and establishing new income streams. 

“We are excited for the next chapter and the positive impact his leadership and expertise will bring to Housing Plus.” 

Of his appointment, Justin Cantelo says, “It’s a great privilege to undertake the CEO position for Housing Plus.  I’m excited about the new role and the huge opportunities currently presenting in the not-for-profit space. I feel a deep sense of responsibility to our customers, partners and community, and the important work that we do to improve people’s lives through independence and choice. 

Customer Newsletter – Spring 2023

Customer Newsletter – Spring 2023

Welcome to our Spring Newsletter for 2023.

In this newsletter, we welcome our new CEO, Justin Cantelo, alongside some new faces in the team, who have recently joined us.

You will also find some handy tips to perform some Spring cleaning on the filters around your house and information on resources to help ease the cost of living.

Read HERE now!

Attention Housing Plus tenants – we want to your feedback

Attention Housing Plus tenants – we want to your feedback

Many of you would be aware that each year in conjunction with the Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA) NSW, the industry peak body for community housing providers in NSW, we carry out a Customer Satisfaction Survey.

This provides you with an opportunity to let us know what we do well and where we can improve. It helps us understand what is important to you so we can plan, seek out funding support and adapt our organisation to better service and support you.

You can expect your survey to arrive in the post in April and you can either complete the hard copy return it using the reply-paid envelope provided, or use the username and password on the front page to complete the survey online

Survey links

I want to fill out the survey on my computer

I want to fill out my survey on my mobile or tablet

We value your feedback and encourage you to complete the survey before Friday 2nd June.

All tenants who complete the survey by 2nd June 2023 (Friday) will be automatically entered into a prize draw to WIN a free week’s rent. There is one rent free week per office: Orange, Dubbo, Mudgee and Bathurst, including surrounding towns.

We are continually looking for ways to improve our service to our customers and look forward to reviewing the feedback that comes from the survey.

In response to last year’s survey, we have filtered your feedback into several key projects. Over the past 12 months we have conducted a complete review of our complaints and feedback policy and process, implemented a new phone system to improve communications and we continue our repairs and maintenance review.

We are also in the process of re-designing our website to make finding information easier for everyone and will be including a self-serve function for our customers based on your feedback. This will enable those of you who would prefer to access and or update information, view your statement or access other service functions online, particularly outside of business hours. We will be asking for assistance to test ease of use and functionality in the coming months.

If you have any questions about the survey or how the information will be used please feel free to contact our Insights and Strategy Coordinator, Carrie Drage, on 1800 603 300 who will be pleased to assist you.

Update from Housing Plus December 2022

Update from Housing Plus December 2022

Wishing every one of our customers an enjoyable and peaceful Christmas. As the year ends, I am pleased to note that we have continued to deliver more affordable new homes across the region. We have also been selected to deliver an expanded range of community services, including an employment and training program, Opportunity Pathways as well as Staying Home Leaving Violence program in Bathurst, Mudgee, and Lithgow.

You’ll find details of some of the highlights during the year in this newsletter as well as details of how to contact us if you need to do so during the holiday period.

Christmas Update – Housing Plus

Christmas Update – Housing Plus

Design Guide: Specialist Domestic Violence Accommodation

Design Guide: Specialist Domestic Violence Accommodation

This Design Guide has been developed by Housing Plus in collaboration with Custance Architects. It explores the importance of providing thoughtful and high[1]quality design for those affected by domestic and family violence (DFV) and key factors that need to be considered when new facilities are designed and built, through design that meets their need for dignity, independence, safety and connection. The Design Guide outlines the necessary standards, principles and features that are essential in delivering successful future housing for those affected by DFV and has been developed in collaboration with other key stakeholders with experience in providing DFV accommodation across Australia. The Guide is a work in progress document that will, over time, continue to improve with the feedback and survey work that we intend to continue with local, state, and federal stakeholders.

This design guide has been developed for organisations or individuals involved in developing new or refurbished specialist DFV accommodation in Australia. It is proposed that this guide will be used by community housing providers, government agencies, specialist DFV and homelessness providers, private developers, Architects, Planners and other development professionals. The guide has been developed in such a way that development professionals can apply the design standards and features, included within this guide, to the different state planning policies across Australia.

We are confident this guide will prove a valuable resource in the provision of fit for purpose housing that truly encompasses the diverse requirements of those affected by DFV.

Design Guide: Specialist Domestic Violence Accommodation

 

 

Join us for a coffee for a great cause

Join us for a coffee for a great cause

Introducing the Housing Plus Shot of Support fundraising and awareness campaign for The Orchard Dubbo, The Orchard is crisis accommodation for women and children escaping domestic and family violence.

Participating cafés and businesses will be donating $1 from every coffee sold on the day or donating a percentage of their profits.

We would love to see the Dubbo community get behind this great cause and join us for a coffee on Friday 21st October.

List of Participating Café’s

Dubbo

  • 271 Darling
  • Black Tambourine
  • Cross Coffee House
  • CSC Dubbo
  • Lotus Cafe
  • Magnolia Café
  • The Def Chef
  • The Harvest Central West
  • Wilay Café
  • Grapevine Cafe
  • Muki Café
  • Farmers Bake Place
  • Press
  • Centrespot
  • Creo Art
  • Dahub Cafe
  • Gloria Jeans
  • Northside shop
  • Short St store
  • The Exchange

Wellington

  • Authur View Café
  • Jesspresso

 

The money we raise will go towards furnishing one of the 4 self-contained units we are building as crisis accommodation for women and children escaping domestic and family violence.

The Orchard will be purpose-built accommodation specifically for women and their children who are escaping domestic and family violence. With women also having access to the Housing Plus Frith Street Office, which provides office space, counselling rooms, meeting rooms, group programs and communal spaces for clients accessing Housing Plus’s Dubbo-based services, including domestic violence support, social and affordable housing, and training and employment support.

A volunteer fundraising committee has been started and they are meeting monthly to organise other fundraising events and support other organisations who are fundraising on our behalf. This amazing group of volunteers are passionate about supporting the women and children of Dubbo and surrounding towns. If you are interested in supporting this vital project in Dubbo either by volunteering or donating, please contact Housing Plus via info@housingplus.com.au or calling 1800 603 300.

Applications for our 2023 Cadetship Program are now open

Housing Plus is excited to announce the 2023 Cadetship Program with thanks to funding from the NSW Government and Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA) NSW.

This exciting program provides an opportunity for one of our tenants to commence as a cadet by undertaking paid employment with Housing Plus for 12 months in our tenancy team and study the CHC42221 Certificate IV in Housing.

Cadetship Overview

  • Develop frontline skills in application/allocation, tenancy and property management within the workplace and through formal training for 12 months.
  • Learn about the community housing sector and organisations that help people find a home and stable housing.
  • Obtain a qualification by undertaking training in the CHC42221 Certificate IV in Housing.
  • Earn an income as you go.

To be eligible for the cadetship program you must be a Housing Plus or social housing tenant and ideally in a position to be based in our Orange office.

Applications close at 5pm on Friday 28 October.

Click here for the Cadetship Application Form

Click here for the Cadetship Information Pack

Click here for the Cadetship Fact Sheet

Last chance to get tickets – Cocktail event to support women and children escaping domestic and family violence

On Friday the 23rd of September 2022 Housing Plus will be hosting their inaugural event Cocktails at the Keystone.

“We are very excited to be hosting this event, and we have a lot planned to entertain our guests and we are delighted to announce that McDowells Herbal and One Agency Bestwick Real Estate are Diamond Sponsors of our event.” said Rochelle Monaghan, Fundraising and Engagement Coordinator, Housing Plus.

 “We know that everyone is busy at this time of year, however we hope that the Bathurst community support this event and book their tickets this week, it is going to be a fun night, and it is a great cause. Women that are affected by domestic and family violence deserve to have somewhere safe to start their journey to recovery, that is why we are building The Orchard Bathurst.”

“I really wanted to support Housing Plus through this fund-raising event because there is lack of public resources in this kind of service locally. Programs that empower people and improve the lives of women and children are vital if we are to have a healthy, self-reliant, and resilient Bathurst community.  My business, McDowells Herbal, was founded on the ideas of empowering the individual to participate fully in life. I see Housing Plus as aligning perfectly with these foundation values -I am proud to be partner in such a worthwhile community project.” said Catherine Cox, Director McDowell ‘s Herbal.

“Seeing first-hand the rental shortage and the need for more crisis accommodation, Housing Plus’s project aligns with our company’s core objective of making a positive difference within the wider community & to assist people in need.” Said Mitchell Bestwick, Owner and Licensee One Agency Bestwick Real Estate.

The event will start at 6pm and we are looking forward to hearing from our MC for the evening the amazing Jane Caro.  Jane Caro AM is a Walkley Award-winning Australian columnist, author, novelist, broadcaster, documentary maker, feminist and social commentator.

Guests will enjoy complimentary drinks on arrival and canapes throughout the evening.

Thanks to the generosity of local businesses, we will have raffles to raise additional funds on the night.

The money raised from this event will go towards furnishing the five self-contained units and communal areas of The Orchard Bathurst, crisis accommodation that is currently being built by Housing Plus for women and children escaping domestic and family violence.

Tickets are available from https://www.keystone1889.com/event-details/cocktails-at-the-keystone

Ticket sales close Monday 19th September.

Date: 23 September 2022

Venue: The Keystone, Keppel Street Bathurst

Time: 6pm til late

Dress: Cocktail attire, suit and tie