by Carrie Drage | Mar 6, 2019 | All
Housing Plus – in partnership with Skillset and Joblink Plus – is creating opportunities for social housing clients in Western and Far West NSW to improve their employment situation and leave social housing under a ground breaking new service, Opportunity Pathways.
Opportunity Pathways is a new program initiative under Future Directions for Social Housing in NSW, the NSW Government’s 10-year vision for social housing, which aims to transform the social housing system and break the cycle of disadvantage.
David Fisher, CEO at Housing Plus, says, “We are delighted to be awarded the Opportunity Pathways program to support social housing tenants to find employment across Western and Far West NSW. This will provide new opportunities for customers and will help to improve many lives.”
“As both a regional community housing provider and a support service provider, we know only too well the challenges and barriers many social housing customers face in gaining and sustaining employment and housing independence.”
“Our partners, Skillset and Joblink Plus are a perfect fit for Housing Plus – like us, they are both not-for-profits who are committed to supporting disadvantaged clients living in regional communities.”
“Both organisations have some excellent partnerships with major employers in the region and will be able to offer social housing customers a range of pathways to sustainable employment.”
Opportunity Pathways is voluntary and will be trialled in three locations in Western NSW – Orange, Bathurst and Dubbo – and Broken Hill in the Far West. Clients who agree to engage in the program will receive practical assistance, training and work opportunities to help them secure a job, work more hours or improve their employment situation.
Services include training, workshops, one-on-one support, case management and wrap around support, coaching and mentoring, work experience placements, job placements and work retention support.
Christine Shewry, CEO at Joblink Plus, says, “It’s difficult to overstate the role of a meaningful, sustainable job in achieving housing independence. It’s imperative.”
“Joblink Plus is delighted to be working so closely with our friends at Housing Plus and Skillset to deliver this important service. Our organisations have a shared commitment to making life better for families in Western and Far West NSW and we’re confident that in partnership with government and community, our commitment will deliver great outcomes.”
Craig Randazzo, CEO at Skillset, says, “Skillset is proud to be partnering with Housing Plus and Joblink Plus to offer Opportunity Pathways. The program will provide people living in social housing in Western and Far West NSW with the support, tools and opportunities to make a positive difference in their lives. Through this program, Skillset is able to offer effective employment and skills development programs, such as the Skillset Workforce Skills4Trade and Youth Connect programs. We will also utilise our extensive relationships with over 180 employers to maximise employment pathways to help individuals take that next step to becoming more independent and open themselves up to greater opportunities.”
For more information, see the Central Western Daily article about Opportunity Pathways here.
Click here to find out how you can participate in Opportunity Pathways or telephone 1800 940 409.
by Carrie Drage | Sep 10, 2018 | All
Parliamentary Secretary for Western NSW Rick Colless today announced $684,859 in funding to breathe life into building a domestic violence crisis centre in Orange for affected women and children.
This funding is included in the $1.6M grant, which Orange City Council will receive under round two of the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund.
Mr Colless said the money will fund the first domestic violence centre in Orange, which will be a safe haven for those in the community who are being abused in their current homes.
“Many women, men and children in regional communities are victims of domestic abuse and violence – and it simply isn’t safe for them to stay where they are currently living,” Mr Colless said.
“Each month in Orange there are more 130 reports of domestic violence made to the police, making it imperative that support in the form of a crisis centre is provided to these women and children.”
David Fisher, CEO of Housing Plus, said, “We are delighted to receive the support from the Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund and would like to thank the wider Orange community who have voted online for this important community amenity.”
“This centre will provide a comprehensive range of domestic and family violence support services at no charge including risk assessment, transport, safety planning, court support, information and referral, case management, community education and support to access victim’s compensation.”
“Most importantly, it will be a centre where women and children can move to while they rebuild their lives.”
Mayor of Orange City Council Reg Kidd said funding for this centre was imperative, and was a much needed community service locals had been advocating for.
“We want everyone in this community to feel safe and cared for. I am hoping this centre will provide a sense of relief to those who have and are suffering in our community for domestic abuse and violence.”
by Carrie Drage | May 16, 2018 | All
Housing Plus has prepared Affordable Housing Needs Analyses for Orange, Mid-Western Regional, Bathurst Regional, Dubbo Regional, Blayney and Lithgow local government areas to provide an understanding of the demand for affordable housing within Central West NSW and the extent to which current provision of housing meets the needs of existing and future residents.
These analyses are intended to provide an evidence base to support local councils – and the wider community – in developing an understanding of the demand for affordable housing, and how housing supply can increase to meet this demand.
The analyses highlight the worsening conditions for very, low and moderate income households to rent appropriate properties across Central West NSW, with rising levels of housing stress as rental costs continue to accelerate. The analyses also emphasise the lack of housing diversity across the region, and how existing housing stock, comprising mostly large detached houses (3+ bedrooms), is not effectively meeting the demand for appropriate and affordable housing from couples and single person households.
Other key housing issues in Central West NSW include a very high ageing population, indicating a need for housing to be appropriate and adaptable to enable people to age in place, and long waiting times for social housing.
by Carrie Drage | May 1, 2018 | All
Housing Plus is thrilled to announce it will receive funding from the NSW Government to contribute to the establishment of a state-of-the-art domestic violence crisis centre for women and children in Orange, based on the best practice ‘core and cluster’ crisis centre model.
The funding will make a significant contribution to the existing funding raised from grants, corporate sponsorship and community fundraising.
David Fisher, Chief Executive Officer at Housing Plus, says, “This project is unique in that all levels of government – local, federal and state – have recognised the need for a crisis centre in Orange and worked collaboratively to provide support.”
“We have also had a huge amount of support from local businesses, schools, community groups and individuals.”
The funding provided by the NSW Government is coming from a $4M ‘core and cluster’ fund announced by MP Pru Goward, Minister for Family and Community Services, Minister for Social Housing, and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.
David says, “This additional funding will enable us to build an improved facility that will deliver even greater outcomes for women and children experiencing domestic violence in the local community.”
“Independent units will give families privacy and space to recover and re-establish their routines, whilst on-site services will help women to overcome the crisis, plan for the future, and achieve safe and appropriate long-term accommodation.”
“The Orange crisis centre will be the first of its kind in NSW and a demonstration project for the state.”
The centre will comprise a community services hub (core) surrounded by six interchangeable 2BR villas (cluster), which can be reconfigured to adapt to different family sizes. The core will be the central hub for residents and other clients accessing domestic and family violence support services. The core will also contain an additional two bedrooms for women who require overnight accommodation to avoid the immediate danger at home.
In addition to providing a crisis response to domestic and family violence for women and children directly affected by violence, the centre will deliver community prevention and early intervention activities to target the drivers of violence and particular at-risk groups.
David says, “Violence against women and their children is a deeply entrenched and serious problem, particularly in Orange where the rate of assault is double the state average.”
Housing Plus is currently awaiting a decision on funding through the Stronger Country Communities Fund to meet the shortfall in funding to construct a ‘core and cluster’ crisis centre.
David says, “We are hopeful that we will secure the last of the funding needed to proceed with the project. If successful, we expect to begin construction on the site in December.”
by Carrie Drage | Apr 30, 2018 | All
Housing Plus is preparing to open a new state-of-the-art, purpose-built development in Orange for people with a disability requiring ‘High Physical Support’ under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
The $1.6M development, located in Bletchington Street, Orange, is partially funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services using funding from the NDIS Supported Disability Accommodation Initiative (SDAI).
David Fisher, Chief Executive Officer at Housing Plus, says, “It will be the first complex of its kind in NSW. Unlike the traditional group home model, this exciting new development will offer independent living for NDIS participants eligible for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) funding. These exceptional quality homes will support people with disability to have choice and control over their lives. 24-hour residential support will be available to ensure safety and security for residents.”
The development will comprise five villas: two 1BR + study, one 1BR, one 2BR and one 1BR with carer sleepover.
Each villa comes as standard with a private kitchen, ensuite bathroom, living room, laundry, outdoor courtyard and private access point. There is also a covered alfresco area for common use.
The villas have been designed to support people with significant disabilities to live in their own home with as much independence as possible. Each villa is assistive technology ready, fitted with height adjustable kitchen benchtops, wheelchair accessible bathroom vanities and laundry area, and Smart Home ready for complete home automation systems.
Housing Plus is partnering with Challenge Community Services for the project, an NDIS approved provider, who will be delivering Supported Independent Living supports to residents in the villas.
Stephen Doley, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Challenge Disability Services, says, “We are delighted to partner with Housing Plus on this new venture. The development at Bletchington Street, Orange, provides a new benchmark and innovation for accommodation across the disability industry. It will provide people with disability greater access to independence and ensure we are able to meet their needs and facilitate greater outcomes.”
The villas will be available to rent from 1 July 2018. Housing Plus is seeking expressions of interest from NDIS participants who are eligible for Specialist Disability Accommodation.
For a full home specification and virtual walkthrough visit www.housingplus.com.au/sda. To enquire about the availability of Specialist Disability Accommodation, telephone Liz Stamatelos on 1800 603 300 or email Liz.S@housingplus.com.au.
by HousingPlus | Feb 20, 2018 | Domestic Violence, Event, Media, News
In 2018, Housing Plus will again be hosting a White Tie Ball to be held May 2018 at the Orange Ex-Services Club.
The White Tie Ball gives us the opportunity to reduce disadvantage within our community by raising money to build a Crisis Centre for women and children escaping domestic violence in Orange and surrounding areas.
We would like to call on you to provide sponsorship and become involved in this community initiative.
A charity auction will be held along with presentations by our new CEO David Fisher who will outline Housing Plus’s achievements from 2016 and plans for 2017.
Funds raised from this event will go towards to construction of the crisis centre and help us to continue to support women and children experiencing domestic violence in our community.
For more information go to : https://www.facebook.com/WhiteTieFundraisingBall/
by HousingPlus | Feb 7, 2018 | Affordable Housing, Community Housing, News
Housing Plus is aiming to improve energy efficiency in its tenanted homes by launching an energy education program for tenants within its current housing portfolio of over 900 properties across Orange, Bathurst and Mudgee.
The program aims to alleviate energy poverty that many low-income tenants experience by inducing behavioural change, delivering low cost and no cost measures to improve energy efficiency in the home, and reducing energy costs.
Justin Cantelo, Director of Strategy and Business Development at Housing Plus, says, “Many low-income households are experiencing, or at risk of, energy poverty through rising energy costs. These households spend a larger proportion of their income on energy bills than other households, particularly larger families, causing significant stress.”
“As well as overconsumption, we also see vulnerable and low-income households that choose to ration their energy use, with some avoiding heating and cooling their homes altogether to avoid unaffordable energy costs. This can impact enormously on health conditions.”
The new energy education program aims to assist vulnerable tenants to achieve greater energy literacy and to better access energy concessions, including those made available by the NSW Government through its Home Energy Action Program. Four easy-to-understand fact sheets are available for tenants:
Justin says, “We know there is an abundance of information on how to reduce energy usage in the home but accessing and understanding this information can be difficult for low-income households, particularly when there are so many different sources and there is often conflicting advice on the market.”
“These fact sheets will help our tenants make sense of all this information and will be available from our three branch offices in Orange, Bathurst and Mudgee, as well as on our website.”
“Staff from the NSW Office of Environment & Heritage have also visited our offices to train our tenancy relations officers and property inspectors on how to deliver energy efficiency information to tenants during home visits.”
The energy education program is funded by a $10,000 grant from Spark Tank, a community competition administered by Skillset with funding provided by the Office of Environment and Heritage. In March 2017, Spark Tank awarded $60,000 in funding to energy saving initiatives across the Central West.
The energy education program is part of Housing Plus’ long-term strategy to address energy poverty among tenants, which includes the installation of state-of-the-art split systems in tenanted homes to replace inefficient heaters, and draft proofing. This is being carried out with co-funding from the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage under the Home Energy Action Program.
Housing Plus is also in discussions with Kenjarhy Solar to install solar PV panels on some of its properties to achieve greater environmental impact and economic outcomes for tenants.
For further information telephone Justin Cantelo, Director of Strategy and Business Development, on 02 6360 3433 or email justin@housingplus.com.au
by HousingPlus | Nov 23, 2017 | All
AGM notice: Friday 8 December, 3pm
Location: The Carrington Function Centre, Bathurst
RSVP HayleyN@housingplus.com.aut
by HousingPlus | Aug 2, 2017 | News
Housing Plus receives $588,000 for Orange Crisis Centre in Orange through the Building Better Region’s Fund
Today’s announcement, securing $588,800 from Building Better Regions Fund, will bring the current total of cash and in kind tally to around $1.1Million, which is 2/3rds of the way and a significant step towards achieving our target of $1.7m.
CEO of Housing Plus, David Fisher explains “We are delighted to receive word that Housing Plus’ application for Building Better Regions Funding to support a dedicated, purpose built crisis centre to help women and children fleeing domestic violence has been successful. We wish to thank Andrew Gee and all our supporters in making the case for a crisis centre which today, because of this announcement is a significant step closer. Our application demonstrates that for every $1 spent on a centre we will save Government over $3.”
The Orange Crisis Centre will be a purpose, built best practice facility for women and children who are at the highest risk of harm or death from domestic violence. These women and children require the protection of a highly secure and discrete facility that provides intense crisis response case management and support to rebuild their lives without violence
“It is a fact that the rates of domestic assault in the Canobolas Local Area Command (LAC) (NSW Police Force) sit at 730.6 per 100,000 population. This is nearly double the NSW state average of 395.4 per 100,000 population” says Mr Fisher.
Why is a Crisis Centre needed in Orange
“The Orange Crisis Centre will address three critical problems that the Orange community currently faces:
Problem 1: The Orange community experiences very high levels of domestic and family violence. In the Canobolas Local Area Command, the rates of domestic assault are nearly double the NSW state average.
Problem 2: There is no Crisis Centre in Orange for women and children escaping domestic and family violence, who have been assessed by Police as at ‘serious threat of further injury or death’.
Problem 3: Women are left with the options of either leaving their community to seek refuge, or remaining in the violent and dangerous relationship.”
What the Crisis Centre will offer
The centre will comprise: six self-contained units with en suites and kitchenettes; a common area with internal play area for children; a common kitchen; staff areas; meeting rooms; common laundry; outside terrace with secure play area; secure rear parking; monitored alarm system; CCTV; 24-hour on-call system; and panic alarms.
Housing Plus will oversee the delivery of the project and will provide ongoing management of the service as part of its existing portfolio of domestic violence services. Construction is expected to commence later in 2017, subject to planning approvals, and be completed in 2018. Housing Plus will work closely with the private sector to apply best practice to the design, construction and delivery of the project, and achieve optimal outcomes for the community in the short, medium and long term.
Value for Government
When delivered, the Crisis Centre will bring significant social and economic benefits to the area including: improved physical and mental health, and overall wellbeing for women and children escaping domestic violence; improved community connectedness for victims; significant cost savings for the economy; and the creation of around 200 local jobs.
An independent Cost Benefit Analysis, carried out by Arabella Perugini-Sheere of A.P Sheere Consulting, calculates a benefit-cost ratio of 3.02, which means that for every $1 invested into the Crisis Centre, there is a $3 return.
Community Support
The Orange Roundtable members and the wider community for the Crisis Centre has been very strong, with a wide network of local businesses, not for profits and voluntary groups demonstrating their commitment to solving this problem. Through the experience of the Roundtable and several attempts to identify funding, the only solution to secure funding for this project is through a combination of government, community and corporate contribution. There are too many individuals and organisations to list that have supported Housing Plus to raise funds for the Crisis Centre. However, the major donors who have donated $5,000 or more include: Australian Government Building Better Regions Fund; Orange City Council; Newcrest Mining Limited; Orange Ex-Services Club; Quota International of Orange; PWM Advice; Zonta Club of Orange; and Dymocks Charitable Trust.
On future fundraising
“We are delighted and overwhelmed by the support we have received from community groups, individuals and businesses to establish a crisis centre in Orange.
We are about to launch a $1 a coffee cup donation across Orange in September and are interested to hear from employers and employees who may wish to donate and benefit from the tax relief.
If anyone wishes to donate, support and learn more about the Crisis Centre please contact Housing Plus Justin Cantelo 1800 603 300 or go to the web site www.housingplus.com.au
ENDS
For further information, telephone Justin Cantelo on 1800 603 300 or email BDIM@housingplus.com.au.
Visit www.housingplus.com.au to learn more about Housing Plus.
Background on Domestic Violence in Orange
Domestic violence in Australia is a significant societal problem with enormous social, economic and fiscal impacts. At a local level, the rates of domestic assault in the Canobolas Local Area Command (LAC) (NSW Police Force) sit at 730.6 per 100,000 population. This is nearly double the NSW state average of 395.4 per 100,000 population.
There is currently no Crisis Centre in the Canobolas LAC for women and children that have been assessed by Police as being at ‘serious threat of further injury or death’. In 2015-16, there were 445 women and 270 known children that met this criteria.
The National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010 – 2022, in particular National Priority Area 3 aims to provide victims of domestic and family violence with greater support and choice by strengthening accommodation options and supports for women and children escaping violence.
Orange is the only regional town of its size in the western region without a Crisis Centre to accommodate women and children escaping domestic and family violence that are deemed at ‘serious threat of further injury or death’. Alternative Crisis Centres, in Bathurst, Forbes and Dubbo, are often at full capacity and, due to their location, are inappropriate to provide secure and effective support for victims.
The current homelessness service in Orange, Going Home Staying Home (GHSH) funded by Family and Community services NSW, provides a crisis accommodation facility for men and women without children; however, it is predominantly utilised to full capacity by homeless single males. Housing Plus also manages three crisis houses to assist with the demand from women and children fleeing domestic violence who are at low risk and can live safely within the community.
However, the more pressing need for safe, 24-hour secure crisis accommodation for women assessed by NSW Police as being at ‘serious threat of further injury or death’ remains unmet. Housing Plus, the Police and Government agencies have reviewed the situation and collectively agree that there is an urgent need for a Crisis Centre in Orange to service the Canobolas LAC region.
Why Orange needs a Centre
Three key interrelated problems are driving the need for intervention:
Problem 1: The Orange community experiences very high levels of domestic and family violence. In the Canobolas Local Area Command, the rates of domestic assault are nearly double the NSW state average.
Problem 2: There is no Crisis Centre in Orange for women and children escaping domestic and family violence, who have been assessed by Police as at ‘serious threat of further injury or death’.
Problem 3: Women are left with the option of either leaving their community to seek refuge, or remaining in the violent and dangerous relationship.
The nearest Crisis Centres are in Bathurst, Forbes and Dubbo. Women and children have to leave their home, employment, schools, family supports, and community to access suitable crisis accommodation, uprooting them from their supports, family and networks.
Without a Crisis Centre, women are deterred from leaving violence, sometimes opting to stay in the relationship rather than leave Orange and surrounds to find safe refuge. The only alternative is temporary accommodation in local motels, but these are a poor substitute for the support offered through a 24-hour Crisis Centre, and do not provide adequate or safe facilities for women with children, so that they can be supported to leave the violent and controlling relationship rather than return to the cyclical violence. The nearest Crisis Centres for women and children are in Bathurst, Forbes and Dubbo, which are a distance of 50km, 120km and 150km respectively from Orange. Uprooting women and children from their home, employment, schools, family supports and community often causes significant negative effects on the victim’s wellbeing, the children’s development, and may delay recovery from the trauma.
A Crisis Centre is an important resource for women and children escaping domestic and family violence. It gives women a safe place to go where they are supported and children are properly cared for. Women that have escaped domestic and family violence require 24-hour support and direction immediately after the crisis from trained professionals. This is essential to keep the victim safe, to deter them from returning to the perpetrator, and to aid their recovery.
For women escaping domestic violence, the perception of being safe is as important as being safe. This is due to the predatory nature of domestic violence, which means that the perpetrator will try anything to find the victim, including tracking devices, GPS services on mobile phones, friends and family connections, remorse, promises and intimidation. It is important for victims and their children to be accommodated in a secure Crisis Centre where they are surrounded by other people, not left alone to be preyed upon, and are able to be better protected by Police.
Local Action
In October 2015, Housing Plus convened the Orange Domestic and Family Violence Roundtable (the Roundtable) to bring together MPs, local Council, NSW Police and Government agencies to explore the short, medium and long-term solutions to tackle the high rate of domestic violence in Orange, and address the crisis accommodation gaps and shortfalls in the Orange community.
Building Better Regions Funding
Nearly $500 million is available through this program the Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) which aims to create jobs, drive economic growth and support strong regional communities across Australia by funding infrastructure and community investment projects.
The BBRF invests in projects in regional and remote Australia, outside the major capital cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and Canberra.
Housing Plus and the Roundtable have sought $588,800 in funding (40% of the total construction costs) under the Building Better Regions Fund, in combination with State and Local Government funding, and community and corporate sponsorship for the purpose of constructing a purpose-built Crisis Centre.
