Housing Choices Annual Report 2016-17

Victoria

Resident End of Year Event Resident representatives and staff members met monthly to design and develop this much-loved signature end-of-year event. Held at Scots Church Hall in the Melbourne CBD, more than 180 residents plus staff and helpers celebrated another successful year of working together. The smiling faces said it all as everyone enjoyed a roast lunch, delicious dessert and shared stories with old and new friends. There was a fantastic performance by the With One Voice choir, as well as the traditional visit from Santa. The children enjoyed the face- painting activities and the adults joined them for photos in the special photo booth on site. Our Housing Choices Good Neighbour Award winner for 2016 was Damon from Seddon, who was nominated for his extraordinary efforts to support a neighbour experiencing severe difficulties from depression. Damon visited regularly and was an amazing listener during this difficult time. Ten runner-up prizes were also announced on the day.

Our very own High Street Garden Group won the Common Area Garden category for the North Division and went into the running for the state competition. Ruby, one of our young residents from a transitional property, received a Special Commendation in the Young Gardener category. Ruby and her partner Cameron are currently doing a wonderful job growing fruit and vegetables in her back courtyard and will soon have new planters installed after Ruby’s successful application to the Housing Choices Residents Community Fund. Also in February, the Western Region winners were announced at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. Our resident, John, took out first place for Best Balcony Garden and another of our residents, Laurel, was runner up. Both are participants in the St John’s Community Garden Group in North Melbourne. In the North West region, the High St Garden Group won best Common Area Garden and a resident from a Housing Choices Transitional Housing Management (THM) property in Northcote won the Best Young Gardener category with a number of Housing Choices residents receiving participation awards.

Financial Inclusion in Social Housing Project

Housing Choices was successful in achieving a $90,000 grant from the Ian Potter Foundation to create and implement a financial inclusion program for its residents. Housing Choices established a partnership with Good Shepherd Microfinance and the delivery of this brilliant initiative will begin in July 2017. DHHS Victoria In Bloom Competition A number of Housing Choices residents took part in the DHHS Victoria’s In Bloom Competition this year. The competition recognises the contributions and hard work of the many gardeners and garden lovers who live in public and community housing. Housing Choices hosted the award ceremony for the North Division on a warm summer’s day in February, on the amazing terrace at High St, Preston. Division winners were announced by Ian Adoyte, Manager of Community Participation at DHHS- North Metropolitan Region.

Our People - Annual Report 2016-17

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