...Growth With Meaning A RESIDENTS’ PERSPECTIVE
Throughout her life, De has experienced an array of housing options. After many years living with her mother in a private rental in Melbourne, De sought independence and, by and large, sharing houses with others worked for her. “It was nice to be with company and to know that there was someone to chitchat to,” she said. But when De found herself facing serious mental health concerns, she decided to move into mental health accommodation where she could have access to 24-hour support. “The service helped me deal with some of the issues that I was going through in my life.” But in the end, it didn’t work out. “It just wasn’t what I thought it would be. It was an empty place emotionally; everyone was dealing with their own mental illnesses. I thought it might be nice to feel supported and make some friends, but it just didn’t work out that way.” It was during a holiday visit to Hobart several years ago that De fell in love with the city and felt an immediate sense of home. She decided to leave Melbourne and her chequered history of housing and instability, even leaving her job selling The Big Issue , to try to start a new life across Bass Strait. Landing in temporary accommodation in a backpackers’ hostel in Hobart, De was determined to find the right home to start her new chapter. Via Gumtree accommodation she found Housing Choices’ Queens Walk property. It was the right decision. In the beginning, De had some apprehensions, particularly with residents living in such close proximity to each other. Much to her surprise, however, De found a real sense of community. “One of the things I’ve loved about being at Queens Walk is that sense of safety. Housing Choices treats safety as a very important thing,” she said.
“Even though it’s run by an organisation that deals with tenants with multiple needs (and a lot of those are my neighbours), safety is still a valid point, regardless of us having our individual issues.” De says the housing team leader, Lisa, and her team at Housing Choices are “onto it” when issues do arise. “There has to be a harmony here, with the people living here in such a confined community. It has to work.” De finds special peace and solace in the community garden at Queens Walks where she is active as a volunteer, helping to ensure that it is meticulously maintained. “Housing Choices provides everything we need…and the official gardener provides free woodchips in return for the help we provide him.” The acknowledgement of the surrounding neighbours fuels her passion for gardening even more. “People out walking their dogs often comment on how nice it looks, saying that it’s not how it used to be.” De’s strong desire to help others has flourished in her new home. She participates in several community groups, helping newly-arrived migrant mothers and children to develop the skills that they need to settle into life in Australia–whether it be taking them on a bus trip to the town centre, changing light bulbs or teaching the young ones how to ride a bike - even finding and restoring an old bike for one child before teaching them how to ride. Several of the mothers have experienced family violence and abuse in their countries of origin. “They’re trying to make Australia home. It’s so hard for them and they’re such nice people. It’s just my way of pitching in and helping out.” These days De finds herself in a very different place from her old life in Melbourne - a life that was dominated by health issues, loneliness and concern for her safety. What she has found at Housing Choices’ Queens Walk is calm, stability and security. “I look forward to going home now. I really feel at home. Safe and quiet. I’m happy and plan to keep it that way.”
I look forward to going home now. I really feel at home. Safe and quiet. I’m happy and plan to keep it that way.
50.
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker