Head Start Homes

Head Start Homes is proud to be celebrating NAIDOC Week (July 7 -14). This year's theme, "Blak, Loud and Proud, Keep the Fire Burning," resonated deeply as we celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

🙏 A Special Thanks to Head Start Homes Aunty in Residence Fran Dobbie for facilitating our NAIDOC event yesterday. Her wisdom, knowledge and stories are a beacon of light, guiding us in our journey of understanding and appreciation for the rich and continuing culture of First Nations Peoples.

🤝 Cross-sector participation. It was also lovely to see many of our supporters at our event, including First Nations organisations, government agencies, foundations, not-for-profits and representatives from the housing, banking and business sectors. We are super grateful to each one of you.

🔗 Continuing the Journey The conversations and connections made this week have been a powerful reminder of the importance of listening, sharing, and standing together. Let's keep the fire burning throughout the year and beyond.

👣 Forward Together As we reflect on the lessons learned and the joy shared, let's continue to embrace the spirit of NAIDOC Week and reconciliation in our hearts, minds, and actions all year round. We are committed to continuing our journey of listening, learning and taking action.

Thank you, Aunty Fran, and thank you to everyone who joined us in making NAIDOC Week 2024 a vibrant and unforgettable celebration.

Are you thinking about purchasing a property in the next 12-18 months? Make sure you join us either online or in person for our Tenant Forum as Head Start Homes will be chatting to us about practical pathways to home ownership.

We will also be joined by Canberra Head to Health who will be chatting about their service offerings. Invites have been sent out to all CHC and HomeGround Real Estate Canberra tenants.

Hope to see you all online!

📅 Date: 18 June 2024
⏱ Time: 5:30pm - 6:30pm
📌 Location: Online via Microsoft Teams - link can be found in email mailboxes

We’re hiring 🎉

This Reconciliation Week Head Start Homes is thrilled to announce that we are proud to commence recruitment for the role of State Manager and First Nations Collaboration Lead. This is a unique opportunity to join our innovative team and make a significant impact in advancing equitable housing and homeownership for our mostly First Nations and single mum clients🏡💚

We're looking for a passionate individual with strong client empowerment and advocacy skills. If you have experience in senior community service roles and are driven to help reduce intergenerational poverty, we would love to hear from you. 🤝

This role is a 12-month contract with a competitive salary and the flexibility to work virtually for our clients who are nationwide. Being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is a genuine occupational requirement for this position.

Join us in disrupting homelessness and creating meaningful change. Apply now and be a part of our vision for a safe and stable home for everyone. ✨

For more details, please refer to the job description document or contact our Chief of Staff, Natasha Kahn.

Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gADs2Ek4

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🌟 Head Start Homes’ Commitment to National Reconciliation Week 2024 🌟

In the spirit of National Reconciliation Week, we at Head Start Homes are not only reflecting on the significance of reconciliation but also taking concrete steps towards how we can support reconciliation for our First Nations clients and First Nations communities all year long.

Yesterday, we held a thought-provoking event facilitated by Georgie Jaques and Kate Fenton from our Home Ownership Success team which shed light on the ongoing efforts and what more needs to be done to support First Nations communities. We delved into discussions that went beyond just this week, focusing on our commitments for the entire year.

Some eye-opening statistics shared at the event highlighted the changing landscape of housing for First Nations households over the past two decades:

The proportion living in social housing fell from 32% in 2001 to 18% in 2021.
Those renting privately rose from 28% in 2001 to 35% in 2021. (ABS 2022b)
Our client data echoes these trends, revealing the harsh reality that the scarcity of social and affordable housing is forcing First Nations Peoples into the unstable private rental market. Consequently, our clients who are living in private rental can spend over 50% of their income on rent, a burden that underscores the critical need for sustainable housing solutions.

In light of our commitment to help bring about reconciliation we highlighted commitments we are making which includes:

Hiring a First Nations Executive lead within our Home Ownership Success Team to ensure representation and informed decision-making.
Continued collaboration and learning from our First Nation Partner organisations and families to enrich our understanding and effectiveness in working alongside First Nations peoples and communities.
Regular meetings focused on improving outcomes for our First Nations clients, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are met.

These commitments and insights drive us to work tirelessly towards a future where First Nations people have equal access to secure and affordable home ownership. Let’s continue to build on the momentum of National Reconciliation Week, not just for a week, but every day of the year.

On this Mother's Day, we celebrate not only our remarkable mums but also the sacredness of motherhood in all its forms 🌟.

So, to all the mums out there—whether you’re a first-time mum, a veteran mum, a grandmother, a step-mum, or a motherly mentor—we thank you for your unwavering love and for making the world a warmer and gentler place 💕.

Your enduring love, strength and unwavering dedication shapes not just the future but the very essence of our homes and our communities.
We honour, cherish and celebrate you, today and every day.

💐🏡

In celebration of Earth Day, let's all take a moment to appreciate the beauty and bounty of our planet. At Head Start Homes, we're committed to creating a sustainable future for all. Join us in our efforts to make a difference 🌍💚

Last week, we had an incredible film day at the Lendlease offices in Barangaroo, capturing the essence of our mission and the strong support from some of our stakeholders who directly supported our newest client into home ownership. It was a day filled with inspiration, collaboration, and a shared vision for a brighter future.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in making this day a success. A special thank you to Jessie Lenson and the team at Lendlease who hosted us on the day.

To our fabulous film/video maker Hugh Fenton, you were wonderful on the day, we can’t wait to see the final product.

Stay tuned for the upcoming videos showcasing our clients' journeys towards homeownership and the vital role our key service partners and supporters play. Together, we're building hope 🏠 💚

Happy Easter to everyone from the team at Head Start Homes!

We’re pleased to let you know that at a Zoom Session on Tuesday at 4.30pm (27th of February), presenters from AHURI (Tom Alves, Sarah Oberklaid, Head Start Homes (Our Founder, Stephen Woodlands), and Aboriginal Housing Office (Project Manager, Debbie Avery) will be available to discuss the launch of the Ethically Conscious Housing Report.

The Ethically Conscious Housing Report was commissioned by Shelter NSW (headed by John Engeler) in collaboration with Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) and focuses on housing initiatives in the Australian context that appear to go beyond “business as usual” in non-market housing provision.

Importantly, the report seeks a workable definition of being “ethically conscious” in pursuing sound housing outcomes for people 🏘️💚.

Our collaborative partners also feature within the report with Case studies and interviews from Bridge Housing Limited (Helen Tighe and Hedi), Nightingale Housing (Dan McKenna,) and Women's Property Initiatives (Jeanette Large) 👏.

A special thanks to everyone who researched, collaborated and contributed to this important report, which provides hope and remedies for the various equality gaps in our housing system 🙏 .

Last week our Founder Stephen attended a housing forum at the University of Wollongong Innovation Campus to learn more about what Housing Australia is doing to support more social and affordable homes in the local area. Thanks to everyone for hosting such an informative event.