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‘My circumstances are typical’: Why stable housing matters
Moving constantly took a toll on Ann Lawless’s health. Rapidly rising rental costs during the pandemic forced the retired academic out of her Western Australian home, triggering two years of temporary stays and instability.
The 68-year-old, whose academic field was health sociology, lived in boarding houses, tents in caravan parks, house-sat and slept on couches.
“There is a constant need to look into the future, and you can’t see one,” Dr Lawless says of those years.
A house-sitting opportunity took Dr Lawless and her beloved pet cockatiel of 20 years, Bernie, to Launceston. But the constant travel depleted her finances as well as her health. Concerned about her well-being, Dr Lawless’s doctor urged her to find a more stable and permanent place to live.
Moving back to Canberra’s she found property in Dickson, but 95 per cent of her income went towards the rent, leaving little for other essentials.
Vital medications and furniture were unaffordable. “Food is a challenge,” she says of that time. “Hunger is real for people in these circumstances.”
Sharing her story was important to highlight the need for safe, secure and stable housing. “My circumstances are fairly typical of older women.”
Before the pandemic, Dr Lawless says she never missed paying rent and had a perfect inspection record. Then, private rental costs surged, and few homes were available.”
Being evicted from her Western Australian rental home was a period of “deep personal shock and distress”.
In March, Dr Lawless and Bernie moved into a two-bedroom home in Canberra’s Taylor, operated by CHC.
After three years of instability and stress, the experience of a stable and affordable home was overwhelming, says Dr Lawless.
“Without it, I would now be looking to move to a caravan park because I could not afford to stay where I was.”
Finding independence, creativity, and home
Simone Bartram likes to say she’s been driving since the age of three, recalling her early childhood navigating life in a wheelchair.
Now 27, the part-time actor and aspiring novelist refuses to allow disability to limit her independence.
Born with Cerebral Palsy, Simone grew up in Canberra with her parents, and sister and brother, later graduating from Lake Tuggeranong College with a Major in Drama.
At college she discovered Rebus Theatre company – an inclusive performance group known for putting people with disabilities on stage and at the centre of storytelling.
People with a disability are looked at differently, Simone says. “As a child I tried everything to find my niche. It’s not easy for a kid with Cerebral Palsy to find your niche, it’s not easy for anyone.”
After growing up with her family, Simone tried share-houses but found the diverse needs of the residents often meant she had to fit in with the timetable of other residents and carers.
In 2021, a two-bedroom accessible townhouse operated by Canberra-based community housing provider CHC became available in the southern suburb of Kambah. It allowed Simone – who needs access to 24-hour care – to live independently and choose her own team of support workers, providing the freedom to manage her own routines.
“There aren’t many disability properties available and once they’re built, they’re snapped up,” Simone says, noting how important it is for her to have these design specifications. CHC has built eight homes to accommodate special disability residents in Kambah – Simone’s townhouse is in a complex of six.
Simone’s home is fully accessible, with no steps, an open-plan bathroom, and a sunny courtyard, and has allowed her to live independently for the first time.
“Having this home is a big thing for me. It gives me space to think and the freedom to choose and be independent,” Simone says.
“It’s nice to feel like I’m my own person and not constantly having to ask permission.”
Importantly, the home also accommodates her nine-year-old spoodle, Romeo – a non-negotiable when she applied.
The pair often walk together with Romeo’s lead attached to Simone’s wheelchair, though the Canberra winters are a challenge, she says. Outside of work, she’s writing a novel titled Jason and the Demons, a fictional work inspired by both personal experiences and the loss of a close family member.
“One day I was waiting for a long time for a taxi and was thinking ‘I wish I could fly’, she says. Around the same time Simone lost an Aunt to cancer.
“The novel is a way to deal with grief and anger and my situation, but to also to look at the positive,” she says, describing a protagonist fighting both physical and mental demons.
It’s set in a world where the support system is reversed, and people with disabilities are the ones providing help and guidance to others.
Wednesday 26 February 2025
Canberra-based community housing provider CHC is pleased to announce that three projects totalling 175 homes will be delivered in the ACT and NSW under the Federal Government’s Housing Australia Future Fund Facility (HAFFF) and National Housing Accord Facility (NHAF) program.
CHC welcomed the Federal Government’s release today of the preferred projects under Round One of the HAFFF funding program.
CHC’s successful projects, with a total development cost of more than $100 million, cover a mix of housing types from one-bedroom apartments to four-bedroom homes and will be occupied by a range of people in need of housing from at-risk youth to families. The projects are:
CHC CEO Nathan Dal Bon said: “CHC is delighted to be delivering a wide range of much-needed homes in the ACT and NSW under the HAFFF, with the 80 affordable apartments in Queanbeyan marking CHC’s first NSW project.
“CHC’s successful projects under the HAFFF underscores the vital role public, private and community housing sector partners play in the provision of quality, safe and affordable homes. We are working hard with Housing Australia and our other partners to deliver these homes as soon as possible.
“Congratulations all successful applicants, and particularly those in the ACT and Capital region who will now be able to move forward with delivering this critical social infrastructure.”
*In September 2024, the Federal Government and Housing Australia announced that 185 projects would make up the initial pipeline under the first funding round of the HAFFF and NHAF.
For more information:
marketing@chcaustralia.com.au
click here to see the official media release
As we approach the end of another year, we want to extend our deepest gratitude for your unwavering support and engagement throughout 2024. Your contributions and involvement have been invaluable, and together, we’ve achieved remarkable milestones.
We wish you a joyous and restful holiday season filled with happiness, peace, and cherished moments with loved ones. May the new year bring you prosperity, good health, and continued success.
Stay safe, enjoy the festivities, and we look forward to another wonderful year ahead with you.
Want to take part?
You can either print at home or collect from our office a colouring sheet that feels most like home to you.
Do your best colouring job and send a photo to marketing@chcaustralia.com.au or drop it off at the office by 15 October for your chance to win!
Make sure your contact details are easy to read 🙂
The Ken Horsham Scholarship is an initiative to assist CHC and HomeGround affordable tenants to achieve their study goals.
The late Ken Horsham was a founding director of CHC and served in various roles from 1998 onwards, including Chair of the Board of Directors. Ken had a strong interest in progressing his community and a passion for social justice and it is in this spirit we are pleased to honour him with this scholarship.
How much is the scholarship?
The scholarship total fund is $8,000 and each student can apply for a value up to, but not exceeding, $1,000 to further their education.
Successful recipients may only receive one scholarship per year.
Who can apply for the scholarship?
You are eligible to apply if you:
How long do I have to apply for the scholarship?
Applications open on Monday, 10 December 2023 and close at 5 pm on Friday, 24 January 2024.
Late applications won’t be considered.
Where can I learn a bit more?
You can download and read the Ken Horsham Scholarship Applicant Factsheet or email community@chcaustralia.com.au
How can I apply for the scholarship?
To fill out the application form online, click here.
Please note: Applying for the Scholarship will not guarantee your success.
You will receive a confirmation via email from one of our staff members if your application is successful.
If you wish to apply and require assistance, please call Lianna Pritchard (Community Development Officer) on 02 6248 7716.