COMMUNITY HOUSING
MEET WARREN, BRIAN, JOSIE & SANDRA
Warren, Josie and Sandra all moved into their own apartments in our Byangum Road property in Murwillumbah when it opened in 2010, with Brian joining them two years later. Momentum Collective manages all of the apartments in the complex as part of our Community Housing program. Warren says he was offered three properties to choose from when he and his wife Anne were asked to relocate from their long term Department of Housing property in Murwillumbah. “We raised our three boys in the Baker Street house. We were there for 39 years. The Department of Housing said we had to move out because it was a three bedroom home and all of our boys had grown up and moved out,” he says. “Anne and I chose this apartment and it was brand new when we moved in. Momentum look after the place really well. They are well built and if you have any problems the maintenance team will come and fix it. I’ve never had any problems myself.” Brian moved in two years later and also relocated from a Department of Housing property. “Pat and I were married 57 years. We had five boys and a good 57 years together.” Brian and Warren both lost their wives while living in Byangum Road and they support each other through the tough times. “It’s good to have Warren here,” Brian says. “He keeps me on the right track.” Like Warren and Brian, Josie moved out of a Department of Housing property when her children had all left home. “I had three boys and I lived in my previous home for 26 years. When the kids had all grown up and left I needed to find a new home for myself,” Josie says. “When I was preparing to move out of the old house I had a few places to look at. I thought these apartments were really lovely but the lady that
showed us around said not to get our hopes up because lots of people were interested.” Josie was eventually offered an apartment, along with two of her friends who had also moved out of Department of Housing properties. “Lo and behold, Sandra and Mavis and I were all offered a place here so I’ve been here since the beginning. I love my little unit and I’m quite happy here,” says Josie. When Sandra moved to Byangum Road she was still working part-time and needed to leave her long term Department of Housing property in O’Connor Drive, Murwillumbah. “I was still working part-time when I moved here. Packing up and moving was a big job. I had been in my previous house for a long time. I raised my daughter and son there,” Sandra says. Having friends live close by is important to Sandra who says there is a sense of community at Byangum Road. “Lesley who lives next door has been here for five years but she and I have been friends for more than thirty years. I also have Josie here and she is just wonderful. Knowing I have neighbours who are also friends creates a real sense of community.”
28 | Momentum Collective
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