After more than a decade of unemployment, Home in Place tenant Danielle has found a secure job to help support her family – and she’s thriving.
The Central Coast resident applied for a part time position at a local Subway restaurant. She has been working there since December 2021 where she does food preparation, customer service, cleaning and store closing.
With four kids between the ages of four and thirteen, Danielle and her partner have their hands full!
The extra income is helping to pay bills and Danielle is also able to give her children some more pocket money.
Danielle says she is really enjoying the role, and the free lunch is a bonus! She says her family are very proud of her for taking on the new position.
“My kids are happy because I can give them a bit of extra money each week,” Danielle says.
“I have been teaching them to save half of it,” she says.
“We were also able to go away with family and friends to see Vivid in Sydney. This is the first year we have been able to take the kids.”
Danielle has lived in the same Home in Place property for 12 years. She says the staff have been a real help.
She and her family often drop into The Meeting Place, Home in Place’s Central Coast tenant hub. They make use of the hub’s Shack Shop which offers discounted and free food and grocery items thanks to support from Foodbank and Second Bites.
“We come here to pick up fruit and bread throughout the week, which really helps us out”.
Meeting Place co-ordinator Maureen said before getting her job Danielle would volunteer one day a week at the Shack Shop. She is thrilled that Danielle has secured paid work.
“Danielle’s a great worker, very switched on and cluey.”
“Part of the role of The Meeting Place is to link tenants with support services and also access to skills training to help them to gain work or engage more effectively in their community.”