Link Wentworth Housing

60,000 lives on hold, waiting for a place to call home in NSW.

By investing in social housing, we can give these 60,000 people the stability they deserve.

Community housing providers are ready to take the lead, but we need the NSW Government to invest in more social and affordable housing in this year’s budget.

For every day we delay, more names join the queue.

Now is the time to make a difference.

Sydney's single parents are bearing the brunt of the housing crisis.

A staggering 75% of their income goes on rent alone. Dreams are put on hold, as they fight to keep their families afloat.

But it doesn't have to be this way.

By investing in social and affordable housing, we can give single parents the stability they need to build a better future.

Last week's Hawkesbury Community Support Hub was a big hit.

A massive shoutout to layla's cafe and Lebanese cuisine in Richmond for donating 13 large pizzas, drinks and garlic bread, it went down a treat with the community, tenants and service providers. Not a crumb was left! 🍕

We also wanted to give a special mention to Zac, one of our Together Home tenants, who volunteered for the day. Not only was he incredibly helpful, but he also took the opportunity to engage with a number of different services for support. He managed to resolve some longstanding issues, which is absolutely fantastic.

We can't wait for next month!

This is a crisis that demands a crisis response. With nearly 60,000 people waiting on the social housing waitlist – we need solutions now.

Community housing providers are ready to make a difference.

The upcoming state budget is an opportunity to start fixing things, and that starts with investing in social and affordable housing solutions.

🌟A huge thank you to Link Wentworth Housing for generously lending us a meeting room space last week!🌟

Thanks to your support, we were able to successfully complete our Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) training for 12 dedicated Taldumande staff members. TCI is an evidence-based crisis intervention model used to teach our staff how to help children and young people handle stress in constructive ways and create a safe and nurturing environment that promotes growth, development and self-regulation.

Your contribution means we can direct more resources to our programs and services, enhancing our ability to provide essential support to young people in need.

In the past three years, the number of people sleeping rough in NSW has jumped by an alarming 55%. Link Wentworth’s front-line homelessness services deal with the growing number of people who are homeless every day.

This is a crisis we cannot ignore.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey MLC, the is your opportunity to invest in social housing and homelessness services that will transform lives.

Our offices will be closed for the 10 June public holiday.

For any urgent maintenance enquiries, call 13 14 21 and you’ll be diverted to our after-hours line.

If you’re homeless and need emergency accommodation, please contact Link2Home on 1800 152 152.

If you’re experiencing domestic violence and need emergency accommodation, please contact the Domestic Violence Line on 1800 656 463.

For mental health support, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511.

💡Tenant Tip Tuesday

Keep your wardrobe bug, mould, moisture and nasty odour-free with this sachet.

> Ingredients
• 2 bay leaves (moth deterrent)
• 5 whole cloves (kills mould spores and deters silverfish)
• 1 black tea bag (kills dust mites)
• 1-2 heads of lavender (adds fragrance and deters flying insects) or half a teaspoon of lavender oil
• 2 cedar chips (deters moths)
• 1 tablespoon bicarb soda (absorbs moisture and helps prevent mould)

> Method
• Combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Place mixture in the centre of a 30 x 30cm piece of Muslin, cotton voile or into the toe of a pair of pantyhose. Gather up the edges and tie them with string or ribbon.

Every June, Pride Month celebrates the diversity of the le***an, gay, bisexual, transgender, q***r, intersex and asexual community (LGBTQIA+). 🏳️‍🌈 🌈

It is a time to reflect on how far civil rights have progressed, but also acknowledge how much more there is to do in the pursuit of acceptance and equality.

Link Wentworth has a Diversity & Inclusion Working Group who proudly work to foster an inclusive workplace culture and welcoming organisation for the LGBTQIA+ community.

The month-long Sydney Pride Festival 2024 is the perfect chance to come together as a community and celebrate our diversity, with this year’s theme being “Compassion and Courage”.

You can learn more about the event and how you can get involved here: https://www.sydneypride.com/

+

Mabo Day is marked annually on 3 June. It commemorates Mer Island man Eddie Koiki Mabo and his successful efforts to overturn the legal fiction of terra nullius, or ‘land belonging to no one’.

The Mabo case ran for 10 years and the High Court of Australia decided that terra nullius should not have been applied to Australia. This decision recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have rights to the land – rights that existed before the British arrived and can still exist today.

The Mabo decision was a turning point for the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights, because it acknowledged their unique connection with the land. It also led to the Australian Parliament passing the Native Title Act in 1993.

Native title is the legal recognition that some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have rights to, and interests in, certain land because of their traditional laws and customs.

Sadly, Eddie Mabo died 5 months before the historic decision came on 3 June 1992 that ‘native title’ did exist and it was up to the people of Mer to determine who owned the land.

📌Learn more about Mabo Day: https://bit.ly/3fzyxlM

🤝 COMMUNITY SUPPORT HUBS 🤝

Come say hello and access the services you need at our Community Support Hubs next week.

Do you need help with:
🏡 housing?
💼 employment?
🪪 obtaining ID?
💲 financial assistance?
🧠 linking to mental health services?
🌭 or do you just want a sausage sizzle?

The hubs can help you with all of this and so much more.

📍 Penrith – First Monday of each month, 11am – 1.30pm at PCYC Penrith, 100 Station Street, Penrith

📍 Blue Mountains – First Tuesday of every month, 11am – 1.30pm at Junction 142, 142 Katoomba Street, Katoomba

📍 Hawkesbury – First Wednesday of every month, 11am – 1.30pm at Hawkesbury Leisure & Learning Centre, 114 March Street, Richmond

👉 You can read about our very own Toni Joseph's work and journey in establishing the successful Community Support Hubs here: https://www.linkwentworth.org.au/articles/toni-joseph-interview-starting-the-community-support-hubs/

The Benevolent Society NSW Department of Communities and Justice Flourish Australia Legal Aid NSW Muru Mittigar Ltd Anglicare Sydney Services Australia Mission Australia Penrith Community Kitchen Odyssey House NSW Platform Youth Services The Salvation Army Australia Aboriginal Housing Office Sydney Water Uniting NDIS Local Area Coordination Western Sydney Tenants' Service YES Youth Employment Services Hearing Australia Wesley Mission DV West My Supports Penrith Women's Health Centre Nepean Community College CatholicCare Sydney Lives Lived Well Disability Advocacy Mountains Youth Services Team Wentworth Healthcare Coles Hawkesbury City Council Strong Nation Church Hawkesbury TAFE NSW Richmond Community Services Inc.

Link Wentworth is proud to have worked with local Community and Reconciliation Australia in developing our Innovate RAP, ready for submission this year.

Like 2700 other major organisations across Australia, we aim to bring awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and culture into the fabric of what we do as an organisation, to respectfully equip ourselves in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Staff and Residents, on their terms.

We are proud to have artwork from acclaimed Dharug artist Leanne Tobin featured at our specialised Women’s Services Hub.

BUDYARI MIDIGA YINYAM (Good Friends Here) was purchased in 2023 and it beautifully depicts a place of safety and support. The artist says ‘This artwork acknowledges the support and safety found here on Dharug Ngurra (Land) at this special place and recognises the good heart and spirit of those who work here to assist people in need.

Women and children are seen in the painting, happy and carefree, standing together in solidarity accompanied by a blue butterfly and dragonfly and local medicinal and healing flora.

We are cheering for our amazing Toni Joseph, Sector Capacity Specialist and ZEST Awards nominee, at tomorrow night's 2024 ZEST Awards Ceremony! 🥳

She's nominated in the category of Outstanding Community Sector Leader for her work in creating and leading the Community Support Hubs. We are so proud of all Toni's extraordinary work and achievements. We wish all the nominees well and are a proud partner of the event - have a fantastic ZEST2024. 🙌

👉 You can read about Toni's work and journey in establishing the successful Community Support Hubs here: https://www.linkwentworth.org.au/articles/toni-joseph-interview-starting-the-community-support-hubs/

Western Sydney Community Forum

Toni Joseph Interview – Starting the Community Support Hubs

This week, Link Wentworth staff celebrated Reconciliation Week together across four of our offices on lands Traditionally Owned by Gamaragal and Wallumedegal people of the Eora nation, and by Wiradjuri, Dharug and Darkinjung people.

Our delicious ‘Native Flavours’ morning tea was supplied by the amazing team at Kallico Catering and Custom Cakes!

💡🧂 Tenant Tip Tuesday

📍 NORTHERN BEACHES DROP-IN SESSION 📍

The Link Wentworth team will be visiting the area of Northern Beaches in May to help you find the answers you need about:

🔨 maintenance and repairs to your property
💲 your rent or any subsidies you receive
🎨 community programs you can join
🆘 preparing for emergencies
📣 feedback and complaints
🗣️ or to talk to your Tenancy Manager.

So please drop in for a chat and snack and we’ll do all we can to help you with your home, health and happiness.

Link Wentworth's offices are located on lands Traditionally Owned by Gamaragal and Wallumedegal people of the Eora nation, and by Wiradjuri, Dharug and Darkinjung people.

In Reconciliation Week, and always, we pay our respects to the Custodians of this land and pay our respects to Elders past and present who continue to care for these places, on which we work and live.

, we celebrate National Reconciliation Week (NRW) by reflecting on our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and considering how each of us contributes to Reconciliation in our everyday lives.

Link Wentworth is proud to have worked with local Community and Reconciliation Australia in developing our Innovate RAP, joining 2700 other organisations across Australia, to respectfully equip ourselves in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Staff, Clients and Residents, on their terms.

Every year on 26 May, National Sorry Day remembers and acknowledges the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities, which we now know as ‘The Stolen Generations’. 🖤‍🌕‍❤️

At Link Wentworth, we believe that providing safe and affordable housing, a place to call home for all Australians, regardless of their background, contributes to that healing, and to a more just and equitable society. 🏡✨

Today, let us acknowledge the strength of Stolen Generations Survivors and reflect on how we can all play a part in the healing process for our people and nation. Together, we can make a difference. 🤝

Priority social housing applicants have skyrocketed by 19% since March 2023, from 7,286 to 8,657.

It's time for NSW to take matters into its own hands. The NSW Budget presents a critical opportunity to invest in the social housing our communities need. Community housing providers are ready to get to work, so what are we waiting for?

If you are able, the COOEE Festival is well worth attending. It is a fun day out and great chance to celebrate Aboriginal Australia’s survival and resilience.

What a perfect way to lead into National Reconciliation Week.

Learn more about the festival here: https://www.cooeensw.org/

THE COUNTDOWN IS ON 🙌🏽

Our COOEE Team has been out on-site this morning with council to do an assessment of the conditions of the grounds. We are pleased to advise that council have given us the go ahead for COOEE Festival 2024, this Saturday, May 25.

We will see you mob Saturday! 🖤💛❤

📍 HAWKESBURY DROP-IN SESSION 📍

The Link Wentworth team will be visiting the area of Hawkesbury in May to help you find the answers you need about:

🔨 maintenance and repairs to your property
💲 your rent or any subsidies you receive
🎨 community programs you can join
🆘 preparing for emergencies
📣 feedback and complaints
🗣️ or to talk to your Tenancy Manager.

So please drop in for a chat and snack and we’ll do all we can to help you with your home, health and happiness.

What a privilege it was for three of our staff members, Meghan Winckle, Jane Cunningham and Julia Shoesmith to attend the Older Women's Network NSW’s Homes for Older Women (HOW) launch last night.

HOW aims to match older women (55+) in the Blue Mountains who are in insecure housing/homeless with homeowners who are prepared to rent a room/unit/home at an affordable rate.

We are overjoyed to support an incredible initiative like this, and our team will be running trauma-informed workshops to the program’s volunteers.

It was an inspiring event, and a pleasure to have both Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman MP and State Member for Blue Mountains, Trish Doyle MP in attendance showing how important programs like this are.

We hope to support more initiatives like this moving forward, to address the housing crisis.

WHAT'S ON IN RYDE?

A great opportunity to connect the community through artistic expressions related to the refugee experience.

🎨🎸 As we approach Refugee Week (16 - 22 June), we’re inviting individuals to contribute their unique perspectives and artistic expressions through a one-night art exhibition. The works will be displayed at Lachlan’s Line Auditorium, North Ryde on Wednesday 19 June.

This expression of interest is 𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝘀𝘆𝗹𝘂𝗺. It offers a platform to share their journey and art with a wider audience within the theme "Finding Freedom Through Family".

Submission close on 31 May 2024.

👉 Find out more > https://myryde.info/99a310

💡Tenant Tip Tuesday

Combined Neighbourhood Centre's Event for Neighbourhood Centres Week 🧡

🗓️ Saturday 18th May 2024

⏰ 9am - 1pm

📍Richmond Park

• Stalls
• Activities

Neighbourhood Centres from across Hawkesbury will be holding stalls and activities to let community know what programs and services they offer.

Services:

• Merana Aboriginal Community Organisation for the Hawkesbury Inc
• Richmond Community Services Inc
• North Richmond Community Centre
• Glossodia Community Centre
• Bligh Park Community Centre
• The Women's Cottage
• Peppercorn
• Hawkesbury Community Outreach Services
• Strong Nation

📍 HORNSBY DROP-IN SESSION 📍

The Link Wentworth team will be visiting the area of Hornsby in May to help you find the answers you need about:

🔨 maintenance and repairs to your property
💲 your rent or any subsidies you receive
🎨 community programs you can join
🆘 preparing for emergencies
📣 feedback and complaints
🗣️ or to talk to your Tenancy Manager.

So please drop in for a chat and snack and we’ll do all we can to help you with your home, health and happiness.

📍 RYDE DROP-IN SESSION 📍

The Link Wentworth team will be visiting the area of Ryde in May to help you find the answers you need about:

🔨 maintenance and repairs to your property
💲 your rent or any subsidies you receive
🎨 community programs you can join
🆘 preparing for emergencies
📣 feedback and complaints
🗣️ or to talk to your Tenancy Manager.

So please drop in for a chat and snack and we’ll do all we can to help you with your home, health and happiness.

📍 NORTH SYDNEY DROP-IN SESSION 📍

The Link Wentworth team will be visiting the area of North Sydney in May to help you find the answers you need about:

🔨 maintenance and repairs to your property
💲 your rent or any subsidies you receive
🎨 community programs you can join
🆘 preparing for emergencies
📣 feedback and complaints
🗣️ or to talk to your Tenancy Manager.

So please drop in for a chat and snack and we’ll do all we can to help you with your home, health and happiness.