Our story for 2016

Partnerships and programs

Our pioneering partnerships with government agencies, community groups and support services allow us to increase the number of good quality homes in the places we work and connect people to training, education, employment and community engagement opportunities.

• Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC)

  In July 2016, SGCH and the CEFC won the Best Partnership Award at the NSW Federation of Housing Associations – Awards for Excellence in Community Housing. The judges commented that the partnership with the CEFC was "visionary, innovative, and nationally significant. It has strong outcomes for clients and the community, and will have lasting impact across the broader sector."

  

  Over the next two years, SGCH and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) will deliver 200 new energy efficient affordable homes, mainly in Sydney's south. At the same time we are retrofitting some of our existing properties, delivering energy efficiency measures to over 1,100 very low and low income households.

  Tenants will benefit from energy saving measures including:

  • solar panels on their roof
  • LED lights
  • high performance ceiling and wall insulation
  • ceiling fans
  • energy efficient windows that block out heat and cold.
• Strive Scholarships
  

  The Strive Scholarships Program helps Social and Affordable Housing tenants with the cost of educating themselves or their family, allowing them to follow their dreams and aspirations for the future.

  By partnering with The Adolph Basser Trust, Kip McGrath, Asset Group Services, SGCH provided 185 tenants the opportunity to pursue their education by awarding $220,000 worth of scholarships in 2016.

• Beginnings
  

  In 2016, SGCH launched Beginnings, our community mentoring program funded by South Eastern Sydney Partners in Recovery as part of their Innovations Grants Program.

  The program linked people experiencing mental health issues, or those at risk of homelessness, with a trained community mentor.

  Twenty nine participants complete the Beginnings Program with the support of 19 mentors. The mentors helped their participants find their way, empowering them to link with their community and other support services.

• Partnerships in Bonnyrigg
  

  At Newleaf Communities in Bonnyrigg, we partner with Bonnyrigg residents and local services to capitalise on community strengths and create a vibrant and inclusive neighbourhood. Since June 2015, we have engaged with 4,071 residents across 93 different activities. We have particularly focused on providing opportunities for tenants to have meaningful input, running a range of health and well being programs, addressing a gap in activities for local youth and improving safety.

• Digi House
  

  In February 2016 SGCH hosted the launch of the Digi House Program that aims to improve the digital literacy skills of 20,000 people living in public and social housing in partnership with not-for-profit Infoxchange and Google.

  SGCH residents who took part in the launch got comfortable with YouTube, apps, voice search and smart phones through live demonstrations. To practically apply their new skills, residents learnt how to use technology to assist them with cooking a meal, translating recipes into another language and finding out nutritional information.

• Sutherland Street to Home
  

  The Sutherland Street to Home project is an initiative of the South Eastern Sydney Partners In Recovery Program (SES PIR) and is being delivered in partnership with Neami National and SGCH.

  The project offers quick access to housing for vulnerable rough sleepers in Sutherland through SGCH, providing seven people with properties from the private rental market and tenancy management services. Neami National Hurstville is providing ongoing support for 12 months to ensure the people on the program can maintain their tenancies, engage with their new community and meet any goals they identify in order to build a meaningful life.

  We housed all seven people under the Sutherland Street to Home Project and of these; five are currently sustaining their tenancies. Two people left the program due to changes in their personal circumstances.

• Connect and Grow
  

  The 'Connect and Grow' program was delivered in partnership between SGCH and infrastructure consultancy RPS. As part of a six week trial in August and September, Menai residents took part in free interactive workshops designed to help them live more sustainably. Participants learned handy hints and tips about gardening, waste and recycling, energy and water. At the end of the trial residents put their new skills to good use, planning a community garden at 601 Old Illawarra Road. SGCH is now looking at rolling out the program in other areas.

• Partnering to deliver homes for people with disability
  

  In May 2016, we began building 17 new homes for young people with a disability.

  SGCH is working with the parents and families of Sutherland Shire Disability Accommodation Action Group (SSDAAG), the NSW Government, Sutherland Shire Council, Southern Sydney Trusted Care and Sylvanvale to deliver homes and support services across three sites in the Sutherland Shire - Caringbah, Jannali and Loftus.

  At the heart of this innovation have been the parents and their desire to make sure their children have access to quality care and accommodation, as well as the ability to choose their own home.