COMMUNITY HOUSING / CUSTOMER PERSPECTIVE
Meet Jaci Six years after moving out of her privately rented home to live with and help her daughter’s family, 63 year old Jaci found herself homeless, with the realisation that her current living arrangement was no longer healthy for her or the family. For two years, Jaci and her suitcase travelled up and down the countryside from the Southern Tablelands to Sydney. She tried not to overstay her welcome in the beds and on the couches of family and friends, moving on each time she felt she was intruding.
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“I lived out of my suitcase, and I felt like crap. I had to fit in with everyone else’s life, so I didn’t feel like I was imposing on them. In the back of my mind I was always wondering where I could go next.”
This opened up the opportunity for Jaci to be interviewed by Jenny, Manager at BaptistCare Clinton Place in Goulburn. BaptistCare had just developed another 33 low-cost housing units for seniors, and Jaci’s luck was about to change. “I read the letter from Jenny on the train, offering me a home, and I cried all the way up to Sydney. I felt like I’d been given a second chance; a new life.”
Four years later, Jaci is an integral part of the Clinton Place community. She arranged the housing paperwork for her Sydney-based, isolated “THIS IS THE almost immobile cousin ONLY PLACE WHERE and Dot to join her and live at THE LANDLORD IS Clinton Place. Today Jaci helps to organise MORE CONCERNED the gardening club and ABOUT THE games club.
RESIDENTS THAN Although always on the A secure, affordable home lookout for private rental means Jaci no longer has to THE PROPERTY.” accommodation anywhere fade into the background, for between Canberra and Sydney, fear of imposing on people. Her on her disability pension nothing was physical wellbeing and mental health has affordable. improved, and she has gained confidence and a new lease of life. “I had my name down for Government housing, but that takes forever,” she notes. With Jaci desperate and almost at breaking point, she asked for her Government housing application to be reviewed. “A sweet lady took the time to explain to me that I hadn’t ticked the box giving me access to accommodation for seniors. I never felt like I was aged or needed aged care and I assumed I wasn’t eligible.”
“I finally have a home. I feel safe. I feel like I belong. I can stay here as I grow older and get help when I need it.”
“This is the only place where the landlord is more concerned about the residents than the property. Jenny and her team genuinely care for our health and our needs, and they’ve provided me with Press play a real home.” to see more of Jaci’s story.