Reflections from the last year at Haven Home Safe
As we near the end of another year, we’re proud to share with you, reflections from our 2022-23 Annual Report.
Managing 2,102 Homes: Our commitment remains constant in keeping these homes safe and comfortable for each of you.
Under construction: Recognizing the need, we’re constructing 173 new homes for people on the Victorian Housing Register.
Completion of Stage 1 Residences, Epping: 151 new apartments are now home to 245 residents.
Addressing Rising Utility Costs: To ease the burden of increasing utility expenses, we’ve equipped 160 homes with solar power.
Tailored Support Programs: We continue to provide support programs tailored to the unique needs of community members who face challenges in securing and maintaining a home.
Crisis Support: During times of crisis, such as the recent flood recovery, we stand ready to assist families with immediate needs and help find safer housing solutions.
Delivering support: This year 7,361 people came through our doors and requested support.
Thank you all for being part of our community. Together, we’ll continue to bring about positive changes for everyone.
Changes to maintenance delivery during the festive season
From Monday 18th December 2023 through to Monday 8th January 2024 all maintenance calls will be diverted to our service delivery partner ‘Well Done’.
Urgent works will continue to be prioritised and responded to as soon as contractors can be arranged.
You can still raise non-urgent maintenance requests via our online form or emailing maintenance@hhs.org.au or phoning 1300 100 242 during business hours.
However, actioning of requests for non-urgent works will be deferred until the 8th January 2024.
Please familiarise yourself with what is urgent and non-urgent works as you may be charged a call-out fee for works incorrectly classified.
Haven Home Safe operating hours across the festive season
HHS offices will be closed for the upcoming Public Holidays on:
- Mon 25th Dec 2023
- Tues 26th Dec 2023
- Mon 1st Jan 2024
We are open our usual hours during the holiday season (Monday- Friday 10am-5pm).
Festive Meal Guide
The Council to Homeless Persons (CHP) 2023 Festive Meal Services Guide is out now!
They have put together this guide of more than 20 events across Victoria for anyone doing it tough or looking for company over the next few weeks. This is a great opportunity to enjoy some great food and end-of-year cheer.
(Stock images used below).
Upcoming changes to the (City of Greater Bendigo) council waste disposal services
From the week commencing Monday February 5, 2024, COGB have announced that household kerbside collection will change:
- General waste bin collections will change from weekly to fortnightly
- Organics (food and garden waste) bin collections will change from fortnightly to weekly
We have heard from renters concerns around the disposal and smell from nappies or incontinent products and wanted to share this advice.
A trial study undertaken by Lake Macquarie City Council (Community Nappy Trial Report 2014), reviewed concerns around odour in relation to a fortnightly general waste bin collection.
The study found that when soiled nappies were placed in plastic bags or wrapped in newspaper, and the general waste bin was kept in the shade, odour was no more of an issue two weeks after disposal in the bin than it was after one week.
*Note – Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census data states that 5 per cent or 2,134 residents of Greater Bendigo’s population is aged 0-4 years old.
Fundraising – Help us spread the word
Our Christmas Giving is now live. This year we’re letting people know that: “Giving just a little will mean a whole lot.
We know it’s been a tough year. As well as taking tax-deductible cash donations via our website here, people can also donate to Haven Home Safe without needing to reach into their own pockets.
Simply select Haven Home Safe as your charity on the CDS can return program and money from your recycling will be donated to Haven Home Safe.
PowerHousing Award Winners
Recently Haven Home Safe were announced the winners of PowerHousing Australia National Awards Tenant Engagement and Social Inclusion Award for our placemaking activities at Epping.
As an organisation that provides housing and homelessness services, we are uniquely placed to help people create a sense of belonging through the safety of their home, connection with their local communities and green spaces, by engaging residents with placemaking activities.
Thank you to all our staff and renters who are actively involved and building their community, making sure everyone feels welcome and include.
It was a privilege to be recognised in a room full of our industry peers and amongst many other organisations and people doing amazing work to help people have a safe, affordable and secure place to call home.
Building a fresh and sustainable start for women and women with children
A collaboration between the Victorian State Government, Haven Home Safe (HHS) and Annie North will provide 5 new units for women and women with children in Bendigo to have a fresh start with safe and affordable housing that connects people with their local community.
An intimate Smoking Ceremony was recently held at the units by Dja Dja Wurrung Traditional Owner Peta Hudson to help cleanse the site and to set a positive and welcoming space for the women who will call these units’ home.
“We know that a home is so much more than four walls and a roof. We are so proud of how thoughtfully designed these units are and what we have been able to create within budget. Thanks to this partnership with Annie North and Homes Victoria, we will see these homes become a safe and stable place where women and their children can set themselves up for a better future,” said Trudi Ray, CEO Haven Home Safe.
Are you fire ready?
Summer is already here so if you haven’t already, now is a great time to make sure you’re fire ready in case of a bushfire.
No matter where you live (including if you’re in a town or a city), it is recommended you have a fire plan and know what you would do if there was a fire.
Here are some helpful links and resources to help you prepare:
- Making your bushfire plan. Your Bushfire Plan | CFA (Country Fire Authority)
- Download and read the CFA’s fire ready kit Fire Ready Kit | CFA (Country Fire Authority)
Download the Vic Emergency App
- Google – VicEmergency – Apps on Google Play
- Apple – VicEmergency on the App Store (apple.com)
- Learn what Fire Danger rating mean About Fire Danger Ratings | CFA (Country Fire Authority)
Here are some documents to download and keep hand to make sure you’re fire ready:
Haven Home Safe Strategy 2040 & ESG+ Impact Report
We are pleased to announce the release of our Strategy 2040 and ESG+ Impact Report.
“The world we live and work in is changing. 2040 will look significantly different to today. Therefore, we are deliberately shifting our strategy to be relevant and ready for the future,” said our CEO Trudi Ray.
The strategy focuses on three areas of impact: housing and support, partnerships, and capacity. A key focus is creating more housing access and options for people throughout the housing continuum, from crisis to community to market driven, to meet people’s diverse and changing needs.
“We’re here to collaborate, to create meaningful change but more importantly we want to deliver benefits that have impact for the people that we serve,” said Trudi.
The ESG+ Impact Report complements this new chapter for HHS and delivers a framework and criteria which will assess the potential impact and performance of new investment opportunities. The framework considers the environmental, social and client impact, as well as appropriate governance and strategic alignment. You can learn more about this here.
