Commonly Grounded
Housing Choices and Common Ground Merger
Common Ground Community Garden
The merger between the Housing Choices Group and Common Ground Adelaide has now been finalised. This was a particularly significant milestone for both organisations as it will enable them to have greater impact on the ground locally and at a national level. This arrangement has already had benefits for both organisations, including: • • asset management efficiencies • • resource sharing on new initiatives • • expanded service offerings on new reforms with Government. The objective of the federated national group structure is to provide a way for multiple housing providers in different states to join together under a common banner, while still providing scope for local representation and differentiation. Common Ground Adelaide has benefited from immediate access to corporate support including General Counsel, Finance and HR functions. In addition, Common Ground Adelaide has retained its identity, including its branding and logo, its links to the community, and a strong focus on supported accommodation and homelessness. Housing Choices is proud that, although there is an overarching framework and strategy set for the Housing Choices Group, a localised approach is taken in relation to the application of that strategy. This localised approach allows flexibility in meeting local community needs, and in securing the best contracts available locally. Staff of Housing Choices and Common Ground ensured that residents were not impacted during the merger.
The Common Ground community garden has operated for several years, and in the 2015-16 year had new life breathed into it with the move to The Joinery - an environmental and community hub created and managed by the Conservation Council of South Australia (Conservation SA) and the National Resources Management Board. The garden project has successfully engaged a broad range of community members including children, parents and older people, all of whom share knowledge, skills and friendship. It is a place of creativity, healing and growth, and the food produced is shared amongst the community and is also used in the weekly cooking program. In collaboration with Adelaide City Council and The Joinery, the garden group added to its program by introducing chickens to enhance the overall garden experience. This new addition provided another opportunity for participants to engage and learn new skills around sustainable food production.
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ANNUAL REPORT 2015–16
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