Home in Place is again being recognised as an outstanding community organisation, having been named as a finalist in that category at the upcoming Hunter Business Awards.
CEO Australia Lyndall Robertshaw said every one of the Home in Place team should take credit for their contribution to the recognition in one of Australia’s premier regional business awards.
Home in Place has been operating for almost 40 years. It has grown to become a Tier 1 community housing provider, one of the largest in Australia. It has also become the largest managers of specialist disability accommodation in the country. The total number of properties Home in Place manages in Australia and New Zealand now exceeds 8,000.
Lyndall said Home in Place strives to be outstanding so it can maximise the number of people it can help to find appropriate and affordable housing. As a not-for-profit organisation supporting disadvantaged people it needs to be efficient and effective.
“We know that to do an outstanding job for our tenants and the community we need to do more than put a roof over their heads,” Lyndall said.
“Our team provides tenants with wrap around support and referral to other services in areas such as financial stability, social inclusion, skills training, and health and wellbeing. This helps people to maintain their tenancy and make a positive contribution in their community.”
“We tailor this support to tenants’ individual needs as part of our person-centred approach.”
Lyndall said tenant engagement and social activities such as educational sessions, craft and hobby groups, computer classes, BBQ’s, luncheons, bus trips, and picnics establish maintain tenants’ connection to their community.”
“A Tenant Reference Group, in each of regions where Home in Place operates, meets quarterly to discuss issues impacting tenants’ lives and communities and ideas for improvement. An overarching Home in Place Tenant Inclusion Panel, which reports to the Home in Place Board, use in its deliberations.”
She said Home in Place makes a broader contribution to the community.
“Providing affordable housing for key workers allows them assists with the productivity and prosperity of a community. Lower cost housing helps people to battle rising cost of living pressures and have income to spend in their local economy.”
“The construction of housing creates additional jobs in communities.”
“Home in Place also has programs to help our organisation and tenants to reduce their impact on the environment. This includes being the first community housing provider to sign up to the Plastic Police Recycling program. Mapping the UN sustainable development goals to our business planning and supporting other organisations to do the same. Our environmental initiatives give us gold status in NSW Government’s business sustainability program – Sustainability Advantage.”
Lyndall said financial disadvantage prevents many people from reaching their potential contribution to a community.
Home in Place’s Grow a Star program provides scholarships and mentoring support for any young person experiencing financial disadvantage to overcome the financial barriers to realising their academic, artistic or sporting potential.”
“Grow a Star is one way we give back to our community. We also advocate for housing reform and collaborate with and support other organisations who are making a difference to communities, such as Hunter Homeless Connect and other housing, disability, community service and business associations.
The winners of the Hunter Business Awards are on Friday September 13 at NEX Newcastle.
This year there are more than 200 finalists across 21 categories. Click here for more information and tickets to the event.
