Interlink Newsletter October

Interlink Housing & Support Association Incorporated Our Mission

To assist people to move from crisis to stability through access to effective housing & support.

Volume 1, Issue 2

September 2007

Contact Details

Our Values

Phone: (07) 3808 2206

To be client focused, sensitive to client needs and achieving the best outcomes for individuals

Fax: (07) 3808 7164

To apply social justice principles, including respect, dignity and equity to all people.

E-mail: [email protected]

Flexibility to maximise our ability to respond to the needs of clients and the community

Web Address: www.interlink.org.au

Interlink Housing & Support Association Inc.

Postal Address: 8/94 Wembley Road Woodridge Qld. 4114 Postal Address: P.O. Box 33 Woodridge Qld. 4114

2007 Annual General Meeting 2pm, Thursday 25th October 2007 8/94 Wembley Road, Woodridge Community stakeholders welcome

Newsletter Contents •

Interlink’s 2007 AGM

•

Housing Company Amalgamation

•

Pathways Project Official Launch

•

Management & Staff Information

RSVP to [email protected]

Update on our Amalgamation

We are working with a like minded organisation, Mangrove Housing Association Inc. to amalgamate under the guidance of the Queensland Community Housing Coalition. The goal is to become an Affordable Housing Company with both a Support & Development Arm. Both organisations have completed a Foundation Report and Project Plan, selected a Steering Group and Professional Team, including legal and accounting advisors. Work is currently being undertaken to develop the new Company Model, Constitutional, Business & Marketing Plan and preparations to complete a new Housing Accreditation Process. Our amalgamation partners, Mangrove Housing are a Community Rent Scheme funded by the Queensland Department of Housing. Mangrove Housing operates under the Community Rent Scheme Program. They are funded to provide short/medium term housing, on a priority basis, to people waiting for public housing in our area. Mangrove lease private rental properties and sub-lease them to tenants who are eligible for our service. Mangrove Housing Association Inc. is a non-government community based organisation funded to provide short to medium term housing for people on the public housing waiting lists who are experiencing housing stress. The areas that Mangrove currently services include: Morningside, Balmoral, Cannon Hill, Murarrie, Carina Heights, Hemmant, Wynnum, Manly, Lota and the whole of the Redland Shire. We house on a priority, not a wait turn basis Mangrove work with all population groups, and specifically groups which are more likely to be disadvantaged in procuring suitable accommodation in the private rental market, either because of their status or limited finances, such as people with a disability, youth, aged, singles, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and people from non-English speaking backgrounds, women and children escaping domestic violence and sole parents. Their referrals come from many areas within the community, such as welfare organisations, church groups and housing resource services, as well as government departments, self referrals and referrals from friends and relatives. People referred to Mangrove are often in emergency accommodation, sharing with family or friends, staying in caravan parks or renting in the private rental market and unable to keep up with the high rent, and sometimes with no accommodation at all. All community stakeholders will be kept up-to-date on our progress to becoming an Affordable Housing Company via regular Newsletters, our web site, Logan Housing Interagency and ‘Pathways to Create Housing Opportunities” Project Steering Group Meetings.

Interlink Housing & Support is currently not funded to provide services around emergency housing.

‘Pathways to Create Housing Opportunities’ project The Department of Housing’s Community Renewal program has provided funds for a two-year project to be carried out by Interlink Housing and Support Association Incorporated in the Logan region. The project started in April 2007 to create pathways for developing affordable and social housing opportunities. The project aims to effectively address the housing needs of the most disadvantaged within the Logan region and increase the number of Logan residents supported in their search for affordable housing. Our Housing Pathways Worker will help residents maintain current and future tenancies and increase housing and support options available to Logan residents. The Projects Community Development Facilitator will develop stronger working relationships with community stakeholders and private providers.

Where We Are Located

The project’s Community Development Facilitator and Housing Pathways Worker have developed a multiple approach that includes an analysis of current housing, existing gaps and emerging critical issues in Logan, the identification of existing tenancy training and the development of complementary training based on local needs.

The project’s Community Development Facilitator has developed training for Interlink staff to better support residents in maintaining or applying for a tenancy. The Community Development Facilitator is focusing on partnerships and stronger links with the private sector to explore new models that could increase the range and number of low cost housing options. A good example of these new partnerships is a six month Pilot Indigenous Housing Worker project involving the Murri and Torres Strait Islander Network. A new worker is now operating from Interlink one day per week to increase the capacity to provide culturally appropriate housing services. Housing staff are supporting their new colleague to develop appropriate skills and experience to undertake a wide range of housing related duties such as tenancy management, house inspections, working with Real Estate Agencies to secure clients a rental property.

We are here Interlin k

Office Hours Monday to Friday—9.00am to 5.00pm

“Pathways to Create Housing Opportunities” Project

Official Launch 1pm, Thursday 25th October 2007

Additional services and opportunities to engage with tenants are underway, covering a wide range of community activities and community members are welcome to send their comments, suggestions and ideas to Interlink. Contact details For more information about the Pathways to Create Housing Opportunities project, please contact the project’s Community Development Facilitator on 07) 3808 2206 or email [email protected]

8/94 Wembley Road, Woodridge Community stakeholders welcome

The “Pathways to Create Housing Opportunities” project is funded by the Queensland Government’s Community Renewal program

RSVP to [email protected]

Management & Staff Management Committee

Staff Manager: Jenny Schultz Financial Administrator: Sylvia Vallender Senior Youth Worker: Jenni Fawcett Youth Worker: Krystal Telford Letting Officer: Joan Maguire Housing Worker: Natasha Burns Property Worker : Nicky Smith Mental Health Housing Worker: Fleur Sheppard Multicultural Housing Worker: Jeremi Heri Housing Operations Manager: Anne Siakasini Financial Support: Yvonne Mitchell Reception Admin: Cassie Marshall & Peter Kloeckl Housing Pathways Worker: Lauren Richards Community Development Worker: David Browning

Linking Communities through Housing & Support”

www.interlink.org.au

President: Brett Davies Vice President: Vacant Treasurer: Sid Pauga Secretary: Timothy Stanko Committee Member: Peter Attwood Committee Member: Frankie Buchanan Committee Member: Malcolm Reid Committee Member: John Larme Committee Member: Anne Garrett Committee Member: Venantie Niragira Tennant Representatives: Keira McDowell Rhiannon Stuart

Our Goal “To respond to the needs of local residents in obtaining and maintaining stable housing”