cofc.com.au/housing

Churches of Christ Housing Services Resident Newsletter Winter 2017

Logan Research Report release Wattle Apartments residents Eileen, Jean and James with Hon. Mick de Brenni

read more page 3

In this edition 3 Logan Research launch 5 Resident-led garden initiatives

7 Tips for the season - winter 8 Help me with it

9 Tenancy issues at complexes 10 What’s on

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Financial counsellors can assist with a wide range of financial problems, helping people to get out of the cycle of debt and take control of their finances. There are a number of community organisations all over Queensland who provide financial counselling services, the easiest way to get in contact with one is by calling the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007. The hotline is free and open from 9:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.

Keeping with the winter theme, you’ll also find an important article on staying safe in winter and a delicious recipe for a warming soup, as well as lots of other interesting reads so stay safe, stay warm and enjoy.

Welcome to the winter edition of HouseTalk

My name is Fiona Kerr and I’m the new Community Cohesion Coordinator. Although I’ve only been in this role since January, I’ve actually been with Churches of Christ Housing Services since 2011, with a short break of around 11 months where I worked for another organisation but I missed Churches of Christ so much, I returned.

With winter’s official arrival on 1 June, the mercury suddenly dropped. Originally a native of the UK, I rather enjoy the cooler temperatures, although I don’t think many of my colleagues share my enthusiasm!

Obviously, we all want to stay warm during the cooler months and in this edition you’ll find some handy tips on saving money in winter.

Unfortunately for many people, the cost of energy bills is one of the main reasons they struggle to make ends meet.

If you are having difficulty paying your electricity or gas bills what can you do?

Step 1 - work out what you can afford to pay, if you can afford to pay something start paying that amount.

Step 2 - get in touch with your utility provider, the sooner you make contact the better. They may be able to offer you more affordable options such as: an instalment payment plan for outstanding bills, averaging out your yearly usage into regular payments so seasonal bills don’t hit as hard etc.

Step 3 - if you are having long-term financial issues, ask to speak with your provider’s hardship department. In Queensland, the Home Energy Emergency Assistance Scheme can help households experiencing problems paying their electricity or reticulated natural gas bills. Eligibility criteria apply.

Step 4 - if your problem still hasn’t been resolved, or you’re feeling overwhelmed, seek assistance from a financial counsellor.

Having trained in financial counselling, I’m a big advocate of the free, independent and confidential help they provide.

Message from the Community Chaplaincy Team Leader – Murray Thomson

How often have you heard someone say “I never trust anyone—it is safer that way”. This attitude often leads to a very lonely and isolated way of living.

The very foundation of any healthy relationship is trust, whether it is with a life partner, a sibling, a child or a neighbour. Trusting someone means that you think they are reliable; you have confidence in them; and you feel safe with them socially, emotionally, physically and spiritually.

When someone has proven to be untrustworthy in the past and we have been hurt it is difficult to trust others for fear of being hurt again.

It is true that there are some people who are not trustworthy and need to be regarded with caution, however to thrive in life we all need to find someone we have confidence in and feel safe with. Building mutual trust with someone often takes time and patience and is a two-way street.

The golden rule (Matthew 22; 39) is a great principle to draw on in doing this. Love your neighbour as you would love yourself or treating others as you would like to be treated is a great way to start this process. In building trust with others being reliable, faithful, safe and trustworthy, one’s self goes a long way to drawing out these character traits in others.

As mentioned, life without trust can be a lonely way to live and building trust with someone takes time and usually happens in baby steps. When that special relationship has been established, however, life contains so much more joy and meaning and that is what makes life worth living.

Community Cohesion Coordinator

Trust in relationships

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Residents share experience at Logan Research launch

Wattle Apartments

residents Eileen, Jean

and James, recently

attended the launch of the

“Building Housing

Options” research report

with the Hon. Mick de

Brenni, Minister for

Housing and Public

Works at Parliament

House in Brisbane.

This research was a collaboration between Churches of Christ Housing Services (CofCHS), Brisbane Housing Company (BHC) and the Department of Housing and Public Works. It explored the housing aspirations of public housing tenants aged over 55 years in Logan. The research Project Reference Group was chaired by Churches of Christ Housing Services General Manager, Frances Paterson-Fleider.

Our residents spoke comprehensively about their lived experiences prior to and after moving into Wattle Apartments.

Residents spoke about being overwhelmed with the big yards in their previous properties, about the effective consultation process, including the presentation on downsizing, and the department’s practical support with moving. They described living in the new apartments, including the support of Housing Officer Damian and Community Chaplain Merisa that helped change their life from isolation to community.

This valuable piece of research built on our experience in providing modern, purpose-built housing for downsizing public housing tenants. Churches of Christ in Queensland’s innovative integrated campus model co-locates affordable community housing, retirement living and residential aged care services. These developments are targeted specifically at people like those surveyed for this research, who are over the age of 55 and currently living in public housing properties that have become too difficult to maintain or no longer meet their physical needs.

This research also reflects our longstanding commitment to resident engagement.

We were greatly encouraged by the positive level of engagement by the respondents in this research. The opportunity of being invited into their homes to reflect on their housing experiences was a true privilege for the researchers. This enhanced a level of trust that provided for residents genuine views, concerns and aspirations to be heard.

We continue to grow our established resident engagement initiatives such as the Tenant Advisory Group, Community Housing Chaplains, and the recently formed Community Cohesion Team. Each of these maintain genuine resident participation in our processes and in our development of new housing solutions and support options.

We sincerely thank Eileen, Jean and James for giving their time to share their experience of moving to Wattle Apartments with the Minister.

Churches of Christ Housing Services General Manager, Frances Paterson-Fleider and Brisbane Housing Company

CEO, David Cant, present the “Building Housing Options” report to the Queensland Housing Minister, the Hon.

Mick de Brenni.

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The ‘Resident of the Season’ awards are now open to nominations from residents (as well as our staff).

If your neighbour, who is also a Churches of Christ Housing Services’ resident, has gone ‘above and beyond’ in your eyes, why not nominate them for the award!

This will give them a chance to win a $20 gift voucher and a ‘Resident of the Season’ award.

You can contact your housing officer, community chaplain or local site office to pass on their name and the reason why you think they deserve the award. Winners are announced in each season’s “HouseTalk” newsletter.

Going ‘above and beyond’ could include residents who:

• assist with community barbeques and events

• volunteer in their local community—such as gardening or cleaning

• help their neighbours with daily activities

• offer their skills to the community–such as language classes or handyman services

• participate in community development initiatives—such as Social Enterprise or Tenant Advisory Group

The lucky winners will be selected from the nominations.

This season we would like to congratulate

Gold Coast – Richard

Richard has done a great job cleaning and tidying up the gardens and planting new plants.

Ipswich – John

John is always helping out his neighbours and doing little things that he is able to do, like changing batteries in smoke alarms, and small gardening jobs. He also visits senior residents to check on them and make sure they are ok.

Ipswich – Bruce

Bruce has taken to improving the communal gardens. He has replanted one garden that was just chip bark and cigarette butts—it is now clear of butts and growing well. He has also planted a vegetable garden, which is growing well. Bruce also attends the community chaplain’s barbeques when he can and is always willing to cook.

Residents moving on We believe that safe, secure and affordable housing is a fundamental human right.

For those on low incomes, this can mean needing subsidised housing such as that which we provide. For some residents this gives them the foundation they need to stabilise their lives and be able to move forward to further training or employment opportunities. In turn this can allow them to transition from social housing into private rental or even home ownership, as the following recent resident stories illustrate.

A resident with a 12 year old daughter from one of our unit complexes at Miami has moved to rural Queensland when she landed a teaching job there after completing a Bachelor of Education. Her parting words to our housing officer when asked for a comment were: “never give up, you can do whatever you put your mind to”.

A couple with a 16 year old son moved to a Sydney private rental following a job offer in the resident’s field of expertise of Electrical Engineering.

A resident in her 70s living in an independent unit on the Gold Coast, moved to a private rental after a change to her financial circumstances. This was instigated by her, despite us offering to at least review her circumstances, but she insisted the unit should be given to someone who was now in more need than her.

Nominate a good neighbour!

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Resident led garden initiatives Residents have been busy donating their time and talents to beautify their residences and even our housing offices!

Bribie Island

Two residents from our Coolamon

Apartments on Bribie Island got

together and cleaned up the front

garden of the Bribie Island Housing

Office.

It was such a lovely gesture and we

are grateful to them and thank them

for their efforts.

Gold Coast

A resident at Veridan Apartments at

Labrador has been doing some

garden makeovers (pictured right).

After recent storms, the creeks at

Bonogin were filling with rocks and

debris. Seeing an opportunity, the

resident gathered buckets and

buckets of stones and rocks and

brought them home to place in the

gardens. He also got some Agave

plants from his daughter’s neighbour

and planted about 10 of them

scattered in amongst the existing

plants. He was also given some

ground cover by another resident to

help fill up and tidy the gardens.

The resident also built a cage for the

hose to keep it locked securely for all

residents to use. The last hose was

stolen, so now residents have keys to

use at any time. He has also fixed the

overflow in the tank that caused a

flood through the gardens when it

rained, with the water now travelling

down the drain.

A resident Seachange at Miami has

also put some of her own grown plants

into the communal garden, making it

look really nice.

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Mitchelton indoor markets Residents at Dianella Apartments at Mitchelton are once again hosting an Indoor Market at the Community Centre in July. Come along and grab a bargain or two. Proceeds from the market will go to various areas and activities at the aged care service.

The indoor markets will host a variety of stallholders (residents as well as outside sellers), offering quality products including hand-made items, second hand goods such as toys, ornaments, plants and tasty food at great prices. It is an opportunity to socialise, eat and grab a bargain or buy some presents. The markets are on from 8am to Midday Saturday 22 July 2017, at 34 Blaker Road Mitchelton

Healthy, wintery and easy.

Preparation Time: 10 mins

Cooking Time: 15 mins

Serves: 4

Ingredients

80g Macaroni

500ml tomato, onion and garlic pasta sauce

500ml salt reduced vegetable stock

500ml water

1/4 tsp smoked paprika

400g tin cannellini beans, drained

250g frozen mixed vegetables

Salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup shaved parmesan

Method

1. In a large saucepan, combine tomato sauce, stock, water, smoked paprika and bring to the boil.

2. Add macaroni and gently boil for 8-10 minutes. For the last 3 minutes of cooking, add cannellini beans and mixed frozen vegetables.

3. Season with salt and pepper.

4. To serve, divide soup between four bowls and top with parmesan.

Recipe: Quick Minestrone Soup

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We welcome the following staff to the team:

Jessica Preston Ipswich Receptionist

Ronan McGivern Service Support Officer – Asset Management

Bill Hutcheson Building Maintenance Coordinator

During winter, heating your home can be an extra expense, with heaters being very power hungry. Here are some tips for saving money this winter:

Limit how much you use the heater, using extra blankets and warm clothes where possible.

Use a hot water bottle and a blanket when watching TV instead of a heater.

Consider using a hot water bottle in bed instead of an electric blanket. It costs less than two cents to boil a kettle of water and a hot water bottle will stay warmer for longer.

Seal gaps around doors and windows to stop warm air escaping in winter. Draughts can cause up to 25% of the heat being lost from your home. 'Door snakes', towels and or rolled-up newspaper can be effective in stopping heat escaping under the door.

Keep lids on pots to minimise cooking time when using the stove. Every time you open your oven door, it loses about four degrees of heat. Keep the oven door shut to cook your food quickly and efficiently.

House fires are more frequent in the cooler months when we rely more on heating appliances. If you live in a unit complex, make sure you are aware of the fire safety procedures, the location of fire equipment and all available exit points.

It is advisable to keep a fire blanket in the kitchen in case of fire. Fire blankets can be purchased from hardware stores or online from a variety of retailers. If you are buying online, ensure the product complies with Australian standards.

No matter what type of heater you have, you should check it is safe to use each winter. Always check your gas heater is working correctly and have it serviced by a licensed gas fitter according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Indications that something is wrong include difficulty lighting, yellow flames, unusual smells or noisy or inoperable fans.

Electric heaters should be checked for obvious damage, such as rusted reflectors, or a damaged power cord. An electrician or service technician should do any repairs.

Don’t leave portable heaters unattended or too close to anything that could catch alight, like curtains or clothes or in places where people or pets could knock them over. Also take care with clothes dryers, laptops and phones overheating when left charging on bedding and blankets.

Ensure smoke alarms are operating properly. Residents are responsible for changing batteries, cleaning and reporting any maintenance issues with your smoke detectors immediately.

Staying safe in winter

Saving money in winter

New staff

Tips for the season:

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‘Help Me With It’

‘Help Me With It’ is a charity whose mission is to connect individuals who need help to do one-off tasks with others who want to volunteer their time to fix, clean, care, shop, transport, garden, sort, teach and more.

Get Help

Learn a new skill or gain knowledge

Gain access to a network of people in your community

Receive help when you really need it

Reduce stress

Reduce dependency on a limited number of people

Increase your independence

The Seeker: A person who needs help with a simple one-off task

1. Seekers select the category of the things they need with a simple one-off task. 2. Seekers write what and why they need help. 3. Seekers choose a suitable Helper from offers made. 4. Seekers will pay Help Me With It a small task fee - $9. The fee will contribute to administration only (Help Me With It is a not-

for-profit organisation). 5. Seekers message their helper on the secure ‘Help Me With It’ platform. 6. The Helper helps the Seeker.

Help Out

Give back and contribute.

Enjoy flexible, varied volunteering opportunities.

Help out when you can and do what you're good at.

Shared knowledge and expertise and learn.

Stay active and fit.

Gain experience.

The Helper - A volunteer

1. Helpers select categories they are good at and enjoy. 2. Helpers receive notifications when Seekers register tasks matched to chosen categories. 3. Helpers offer. They volunteer to help someone - just once for 1-5 hours. 4. Helpers pay the charity a small annual Membership fee ($10). This once-a-year fee contributes to administration only. 5. Helpers message with the Seeker on the secure Help Me With It platform. 6. The Helper helps the Seeker. For more information visit - https://helpmewithit.org.au/

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Living in unit complexes Residents living in unit complexes always need to be mindful of their neighbours and additional tenancy responsibilities, including those listed in the communal rules. If in doubt, check the Tenant Handbook or contact your Housing Officer.

Coolamon Social

Club members held a tea-riffic morning tea Coolamon Social Club members Gayle, Susan and Vicki hosted a ‘biggest morning tea’ fundraising event for the Cancer Council on the 12 May. This is the third year these ladies have hosted the event. All the money raised from the day will go towards the good cause. The women know all too well just how important it is to raise money for cancer research. Well done on another successful morning tea and for coming together to inspire others.

Parking

Please observe local council parking

laws, as well as the terms of your

lease, including not parking on

grassed areas or footpaths.

Please do not use your car spaces to

store other items, such as cupboards,

tools, paint, kitty litter, bikes, etc.

Please avoid or clean up any oil spills

in car parks.

If you change your vehicle, you need

to tell us.

If you obtain or no longer have a

disability parking permit, you need to

tell us (especially if your complex has

allocated paid parking).

If parking is allocated (permit issued),

please only park in your allocated

bay. If you want to swap with another

resident and mutually agree, you

must let us know.

Communication

It is important to remember that

your designated housing officer,

has responsibility for managing

your tenancy, rather than the

community chaplain. In order for

you to receive the most prompt

response, please ensure you

contact your housing officer, (or

local housing office) for any

matters related to your tenancy

such as maintenance or to provide

feedback.

Directly raising matters with your

housing officer will ensure you

receive the best possible response

and will enable chaplains to deliver

community support rather than

managing tenancy matters.

Rubbish

Please dispose of rubbish

correctly. Do not place

incorrect and/or un-bagged

items down rubbish chutes,

creating spillages and

unwelcomed odours.

Please put items in the

correct bin (recycling and

waste).

Please do not place large

items in a bin that should

be otherwise disposed of,

such as old furniture,

flammable liquids or empty

boxes that have not been

broken.

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Brisbane

Eat Street Markets Friday and Saturday evenings 4 - 10pm, 17 MacArthur Ave, Hamilton

City Farmers Market 8am – 6pm Wednesdays (top of the Queen St Mall), George St, Brisbane

Rocklea Markets 6am – 12pm Saturday Fresh Market and Sunday Discovery Market Sherwood Road, Rocklea

Carseldine Farmers & Artisan Markets 6am – 12pm Saturdays 532 Beams Rd, Carseldine

Eagle Farm Markets 7am-12:30pm Sundays Racecourse Road, Ascot

Nundah Farmers Markets 6am-12pm Sundays Station Street, Nundah

For more Brisbane event information visit www.visitbrisbane.com.au

Ipswich

Ipswich Twilight Markets 4pm to 8pm Fridays Ipswich City Square

Markets in the Mall 8am-12pm Saturdays Ipswich City Mall

Handmade Expo and Vintage Market 8am-1pm 4th Saturday of the month Ipswich Turf Club

For more Ipswich event information visit www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/about_ipswich/community-events

Gold Coast

Broadbeach Markets 8am-2pm First and third Sundays, Kurrawa Park, Old Burleigh Road, Broadbeach

Burleigh Markets 8am-2.30pm Last Sunday of the month, Justins Park, The Esplanade, Burleigh Head

Mudgeeraba Sunset Markets 4pm-8pm Fridays Mudgeeraba Showgrounds, 115 Mudgeeraba Road, Worongary

Coolangatta Markets 8am-2.30pm Second Sundays of month Queen Elizabeth Park, Marine Parade, Coolangatta

Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets 4pm-9pm Wed, Fri and Sundays The Esplanade Surfers Paradise

For more Gold Coast event information visit: goldcoast.qld.gov.au

Sunshine Coast

Caloundra Street Fair 8am - 1pm Sundays Bulcock Street, Caloundra

Creative Incubator pop-up markets. First Saturday every month, Sunshine Plaza Level One, Maroochydore

For more Sunshine Coast event information visit: events.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

“I am really looking forward to getting to know a few other

Wattle residents better”

Brenda McGinnies is settling into her new unit.

Brenda’s story “Easy to clean, nice quiet neighbours and I don’t have to mow the lawn anymore”, listed Brenda McGinnis of the positives of her recent move to Wattle Apartments.

Coming from a three-bedroom house with a yard into a one bedroom unit with a balcony, Brenda McGinnis is enjoying time off from maintenance required in a bigger place.

“Carpet is only in the bedroom and with the rest tiles, it is just a quick mop,” explained Brenda of her new cleaning routine.

Having events organised for her through the community chaplain is also another appealing feature of the apartments.

A bingo promoter during the week, Brenda says depending on her days, she can be either full of beans or exhausted when she gets home.

‘Sometimes I may feel like company, other times not so much so I am really looking forward to getting to know a few of the other Wattle residents better at barbecues and activities at the common area.”

“Not that I didn’t like living near teenagers and young families, I just didn’t realise how much I would enjoy being around people my own age.”

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After-hours service

We know that sometimes there are problems you

encounter after-hours; this is why we have the after-hours

phone service so you can contact us in an emergency.

Remember, this number 1800 446 604 is for emergencies

only and is only turned on when our offices are closed.

This service is managed by a single on-call staff member.

At times when more than one emergency is being

managed, it can reduce their ability to respond as a

number of calls are usually required to emergency

services, contractors or other residents.

We will endeavour to return calls within 30 minutes;

however this is not always possible. Please do not text the

after-hours number as it does not receive messages.

Office hours

Office hours are Monday to Friday.

Brisbane Phone 07 3327 1674 8.30am–4.30pm

Ipswich Phone 07 3436 8900 8.30am–4.30pm

Gold Coast Phone 07 5539 7655 8.30am–4.30pm

Please note that Churches of Christ Housing Services’

offices will be closed on public holidays.

Public holiday closures:

EKKA Day – Wednesday 16 August (Brisbane office

only)

Temporary absence reminder

Residents who need to take a prolonged absence away

from their home can submit an application. All tenants are

obligated to advise their landlord for any absence longer

than two weeks. This ensures any issues can be

appropriately managed while the property is unattended.

While you are away from your home, you will still be

charged rent and you will still be responsible for things

such as garden maintenance and security. You will also be

required to complete the annual rent and eligibility

assessment process if this is required at the time you are

away.

Tenant Advisory Group

Tenant Advisory Group meetings are held every three

months, alternating between central and regional group

meetings in Brisbane, Ipswich, Gold Coast and Sunshine

Coast.

The next full member meeting will be held in September. If

you would like to attend—but have never been to a

meeting like this before—call us on 07 3327 1674 and we

will tell you all about it and let you know how to register.

Food co-op

Tivoli Drive-in Food Co-op

50 Coal Road, Churwar

Open Wednesday 10.45am – 2.15pm and Thursday

12.00pm – 6.00pm (Thursday afternoons also includes a

fresh farmer’s market)

Cheap groceries, free bread, milk, fruit and vegetables

Hampers priced from $10.00

Contribute to HouseTalk!

We love to hear from you and want to include your

stories in HouseTalk!

If you have an article, photo, art, poetry, recipe or story

from your community, then send it through.

You can submit content, articles or ideas to your local

housing officer, community chaplain or office.

Upcoming events

NAIDOC Week 2 – 9 July

Homelessness Prevention Week 7 – 13 August

Queensland Seniors Week 19 – 27 August

About us Churches of Christ in Queensland has been an active part of the community for more than 130 years. We have a significant presence in Queensland, Victoria and Vanuatu with over 300 services in more than 100 communities. Thanks to the support of over 3,300 staff and 1,500 volunteers, we positively impact tens of thousands of lives each year. We operate a range of missional and community care services to assist families, the elderly and people in need through church communities and our care services groups operated through Churches of Christ Care and Churches of Christ Housing Services.

Churches of Christ Housing Services provide community housing and housing support options for individuals and families who earn low incomes, are discriminated against in the private housing market, or who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Head Office

41 Brookfield Road

Kenmore Queensland 4069

Phone: 07 3327 1674 Website: cofc.com.au