EVO LVE H O U S I N G A N N UA L R E P O RT 2 0 2 0 – 2 0 2 1
12 YE A R S O F J OY When Executive Manager of Social Housing Joy Sneesby
Evolve Housing management. Around this same time,
first began working at Evolve Housing in 2009, it was
the Housing Pathways system (the centrally managed
on a 3-month secondment from Housing NSW. That
NSW social housing waitlist) was introduced, and Joy
temporary stint turned into a 12-year period of service
helped to train her team in using it.
in community housing, with Joy making a significant contribution to both Evolve Housing and the sector.
Since Joy began in 2009, Evolve Housing has grown from managing less than 2,000 properties to 4,270 pro-
Joy, who announced her retirement in the 2020–2021
perties, and the organisation’s policies and procedures
financial year, first joined Evolve Housing as part
have developed significantly under Joy’s guidance.
of a program by Housing NSW to transfer skills and
“The past 12 years has seen tremendous growth and
knowledge to the community housing sector, which
opportunities across the community sector. Greater
was expected to grow dramatically.
structure in reporting and accountability came with the sector growth,” Joy said.
Her 3-month secondment turned into a 6-month stint, before she was offered the opportunity to stay at
“I walk away from a 12-year career in community
Evolve Housing (then known as Affordable Community
housing knowing there is real cohesion across all
Housing Limited) permanently. “Leaving behind a 25-
levels of social housing where government and non-
year career in government, I just knew that community
government housing are really working together to
housing was going to be the perfect fit for me. From
deliver great person-centred outcomes such as the
day one, I have felt valued and to be honest, I have
Together Home program.” “As I head into retirement,
felt that each and every day while being at Evolve; my
I would like to thank every applicant that I have sat
knowledge, experience and opinions mattered,” Joy
beside, every tenant that I have walked beside and
said of her experience.
every team member that I have worked beside.”
Joy said that moving into community housing felt like
TEAM WORK
“coming home”, and that the sector offers flexibility
Over her time at Evolve Housing, Joy has made
and creativity in decision-making, and places tenants
close connections with a number of residents,
at the forefront of every decision and policy.
including Margaret, who she appears on the front cover of this Report with. Margaret has
When Joy first joined Evolve Housing, the organisation
been volunteering with our Friendship Aged
was much smaller and had less resources. Housing
Network (FAN) program for 10 years, calling
allocations were managed locally using a paper-based
senior residents each week to offer a friendly
system. This began to change in 2010 when Evolve
chat and information on support services.
Housing received a large quantity of properties under
Joy and Margaret have built up a friendship
a stimulus package. To handle the increased portfolio
over the years due to their contributions to
efficiently, Joy worked to build an Applications and
Evolve Housing programs and shared interest
Allocations Team, which worked in partnership with
in helping tenants.
Housing NSW to transfer properties and tenants into
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