New homes in Ararat
“I am so excited; you have just made my year,” said a renter who recently moved into one of our four new homes in Ararat.
Before renters moved in, our CEO Trudi Ray and members of our development and tenancy team along with State Labor Member for Ripon – MP Martha Haylett, Ararat Rural City Council Mayor – Cr Bob Sanders, Ararat Rural City Council CEO – Dr Tim Harrison and our developers E2E Growth Consultants Pty Ltd all visited the site to see the development.
The $1.8 million project was delivered in partnership with Homes Victoria as part of the $5.3 Billion Big Housing Build and was jointly funded between Homes Victoria ($1.4 million) and Haven Home Safe ($400,000).
The homes have been designed with high quality finishes, all electric, energy efficient appliances, heat-pump water services, low maintenance landscaping and individual water tanks.
Mildura glass recycling
Mildura’s new purple-lidded, kerbside glass-only service has started. This means glass will no longer be accepted through your yellow-lidded recycling bin.
This will ensure more materials are transformed into new and useable materials, including being used in local road projects.
Need to check your bin date? Visit www.mildura.vic.gov.au/myneighbourhood and type in your address to see your bin collection dates.
You can learn more about your Mildura kerbside bin service at www.mildura.vic.gov.au/waste
Development Team of the Year
Congratulations to our Development Team who were recently awarded ‘Team of the Year’ Award at the 2024 Property Council Victoria People in Property Awards.
It was an incredible night celebrating the people who make up the diverse fabric of the property industry and we were proud to stand amongst commercial businesses and show the strength and impact of community housing.
Congratulations to all the award finalists and winners on the night. Thank you to the event and award organisers, volunteers, judges and to Rob McGauran for his role in helping us win by providing a reference for our submission.
We’re over the moon with this outcome and are so proud of our team to have been recognised in such a prestigious way.
You’re invited to enter the Victoria in Bloom Garden competition
Victoria In Bloom competition opens soon August 26 – 22nd November
Victoria in Bloom garden competition | Housing.vic.gov.au
Congratulations to our renter Irene who was awarded the winner of Best Creative Garden in the 2023-24 Victoria in Bloom Garden Competition.
We were thrilled to see Irene’s hard work getting the recognition and attention it deserves!
Epping training and employment event
Thank you to the Department of Employment and Workforce Relations (DEWR) and the local council who helped us co-deliver a training and employment event at Epping last month.
The event was driven by our residents who are looking for local training and employment opportunities.
Thank you to the organisations who attended the event and helped our residents to learn more about the options available to them.
We’re pleased to share these quotes from our residents who attended.
Neighbourhood Day winner
To celebrate Neighbour Day we put the call out to hear about people who are amazing neighbours.
We received this heartwarming nomination for Wendy who won our ‘Amazing Neighbour Award.’
“Wendy quietly assists other residents to do their gardens weekly and before house inspections.
Most days you see Wendy working in her garden and other elderly people’s garden pulling out weeds.
She is a quiet achiever and I think HHS needs to know she is a great neighbour.
Also, other neighbours all help each other with putting out the bins.
We are so blessed to live here.”
What happens after you make a maintenance request?
For renters in long-term housing, your maintenance requests come through to Haven Home Safe (click here for a reminder of how and when to report maintenance issues).
After you report a maintenance request:
- The Maintenance Team requests a contractor/trade person to attend the property and repair the maintenance issue you reported.
- Maintenance Officers will ask a few questions to make sure we send the right trade. Sometimes with help from the renter we fix the issue.
- The assigned contractor will then contact you via the phone number you have provided to arrange a suitable time to attend.
- We know no-one likes to answer phone calls when they don’t recognise the number, which is why we have requested the contractors leave a message with a contact phone number.
- Please call this number back as soon as possible. Contractors and Tradesmen will not attend a property if they haven’t spoken to you, the renter.
The contractor will attend the property at the time and date they have arranged with you.
Tips for managing winter worries around your home
Click here for more details on each of the tips below.
Do you have contents insurance?
On the rare occasion that an accident such as fire, theft, water damage, flood or storm damage happens to a property, renters belongings may be damaged or lost.
It is the responsibility of the renter to ensure they have adequate contents insurance to cover the cost of replacing their belongings as these are not covered under Haven Home Safe’s building insurance which only covers the building structure.
You can learn more about what contents insurance is, and how to calculate how much you need here: Department of Families Fairness and Housing Victoria | Insure it. It’s worth it. (dffh.vic.gov.au).
We know that with the cost of living it can be tempting to skip insurance but it’s worth getting a quote in case it’s more affordable than you think.
Financial counselling
If you feel overwhelmed by debt or bills, a financial counsellor may be able to help. Financial counsellors are skilled professionals who provide free advice and support to people struggling with bills and debt. A financial counsellor can:
- assess your financial situation
- provide advice about what to do if you’re struggling to pay bills and fines
- help you negotiate with government agencies, your landlord, utilities, telcos, and other creditors
- assist you if you’re being harassed by debt collectors
- refer you to other services you might need, such as legal, accommodation, health and crisis services
Learn more about financial counselling here: Financial counselling – Moneysmart.gov.au or call:
The free National Debt Helpline – 1800 007 007 (open from 9.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday) Or live chat, Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 8:00pm.
When you call, you’ll be transferred to your local service provider.
Mob Strong Debt Helpline is a free legal advice service about money matters for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from anywhere in Australia.
Mob Strong Debt Helpline – 1800 808 488 (open from 9.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday).
If you’re having trouble paying your energy bills, click here for more information to help you know your rights.
