Humelife Spring 2021

Hume’s first Reconciliation Action Plan

It’s a firey affair

Kirstie now home with Hume 70 homes in 70 days

Read how Hume changed the lives of Janine and Scott.

Contents

5

8

70 homes in 70 days

The renovations focused on properties in the Hunter region and have transformed homes and lives

Hume and Port Stephens focus on housing solutions

Port Stephens Council is encouraging the community to get behind housing as a solution to ending homelessness.

9 Prepare for bushfire season

Bushfires are a natural part of the Australian environment and occur regularly

12 Community noticeboard

Discover services, activities and support local to you

16

It’s a rural firey affair

Hume employee Alicia together with her husband were recently presented the Premier’s Award for their heroic efforts during the terrible 2019-2020 bushfires

19

Kirstie now home with Hume

Kerry and Neale are proud to watch their daughter adapt to her new home and establish the solid routines she needs to live well

20 Reconciliation Action Plan

We must be proactive in what we can do to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to succeed and prosper on their terms.

21

Our Dusanka makes it into the 2021 ZEST Hall of Fame

Housing Independence Manager Dusanka

Mrdjenovic has gone above and beyond in her 14 years at Hume.

Cover shot: Artwork by proud Gomeroi man and talented artist Jakeob Watson for our Reconciliation Action Plan, a document that provides a framework for our organisation to support the national reconciliation movement. Visitors to our Maitland Office are able to see the painting in the reception area.

Welcome to our Spring issue

From Hume’s CEO Nicola Lemon.

Hello everyone, welcome to the Spring Issue of HumeLife magazine.

It’s been a tough few months for everyone during the lockdowns. I hope the promise of warmer weather is enough to lift your spirits and provides an opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy time in your garden or local park.

While our offices remain closed, the past few months have been busy ones as we launched our improved Maintenance and Repairs service. While lockdowns have meant we are only able to deliver emergency repair services to you, you can rest assured knowing that once areas reopen, we will be back in force to support you with our full suite of maintenance services.

We now have four new maintenance contractors delivering services to Hume customers

across Sydney metropolitan and Hunter regional. We chose local, experienced trades companies for each region, selected for their reliability, high-quality and courteous service. The safety and standard of your home is important, and we know there is work to be done, particularly in the Hunter.

In this issue is information on how to log a maintenance request. You can do so using a range of options. Our goal is to make it easier for you to get what you need and to have confidence in the progress of your job.

Over the past few weeks our teams have been making hundreds of calls to check in with customers to have a friendly chat and see what they need. We are here to support you and can be contacted during our usual business hours to discuss how we can assist.

Covid-19 resources in your language

At Hume, we believe it is very important that everyone in the community can access vaccination information and take steps to stop the spread of COVID-19. You can find everything you need including local vaccination and testing centres at https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

We are planning how we will reopen offices once approved to do so, and we hope that day is not too far off. We miss seeing our customers and being out in the community.

Take care until then,

Nicola

Nicola Lemon Chief Executive Officer

P.S. I hope you love the beautiful artwork on the cover. It is a painting we commissioned to commemorate our Reconciliation Action Plan. It hangs in our Maitland office. The painting is by Jakob Watson, a talented Aboriginal artist from the Hunter. You can read about our Reconciliation Action Plan in this issue.

in 70 days 70 homes

From 1 April – 1 July 2021, Hume successfully completed renovations to 70 properties in 70 days using just under $4 million in stimulus funding awarded by the NSW Government. The renovations focused on properties in the Hunter region and have transformed homes and lives. Here are a few of their stories.

story Janine’s

Janine has lived in her 40-year-old house in Raymond Terrace for 16 years. Her home is one she is now proud to welcome friends and family into. Just a few weeks earlier that was not the case.

When Janine’s last child left home, she said her empty nest truly engulfed her. A collection issue Janine struggled with most of her life grew progressively worse, making her home off limits to almost everyone – including her family.

“I was just so depressed. I used to cry every day and I was ashamed a lot. I just could not get beyond the house. Everything just piled up and it kept getting worse.”

But things are different today. She has found a way back to home.

This she said is because her house was chosen for renovation

in the latest New South Wales Government stimulus program, applied for by Hume Community Housing which manages social housing in the Hunter on behalf of the NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC), which owns Janine’s property. The works commissioned by Hume commenced during April 2021.

“My house needed a lot of major maintenance work, but this could not happen with all the mess, so it spurred me on to take action,” she said, “I worked really hard because I realised more than ever that I did not want to live in this mess, it was time!”

Janine worked with Hume to get things done. Hume provided a shipping container to move all her furniture into and a skip to throw things out. Slowly but surely, she has cleared her house, with only a few boxes left to deal with.

Janine had her house painted, new carpets and a new kitchen done. The garden also received a new fence.

“This is the first time in eight years I have slept in a bed, first because I slept on the lounge to give my kids a bed, and second because in the bedroom was inaccessible due to all the clutter,” Janine said.

I WORKED REALLy HARD bECAuSE I REALISED mORE THAN EvER THAT I DID NOT WANT TO LIvE IN THIS mESS, IT WAS TImE!

“Sleeping in my own bed is simply amazing – now I love it!”

Janine plans to have the family for Christmas dinner as she continues to get more done.

“I am so grateful to Hume because they have helped me so much to get my home back,” she said, “All the workers were lovely too. I have not felt so positive for a long time. It’s wonderful – I have a new lease on life!”

story Scott’s

For single father of six Scott, renovations on his Rutherford home have given him a “new life”.

“Our home was very run down and no matter what we did to try to make it better, it was not enough, we always felt embarrassed by its condition,” said Scott.

Scott moved into his 52-year-old Rutherford home just over five years ago to be closer to emergency medical facilities due to a genetic heart condition.

Scott’s son Tristan (20) – who lives with him along with his youngest daughter – has saved his life twice, knowing what medication to give and how when an emergency happens.

When they heard about the renovations – which included a new kitchen, window frames, carpets and painting throughout – the family were delighted.

“We were so excited by the news, we started packing early as we had plenty of time to get organised.”

Tristan works as a cook and happily made the tradesmen the odd egg and bacon roll to show their gratitude.

“They treated us with great respect, were friendly and helpful it was the least we could do.”

Scott and Tristan said the renovations brought smiles to their faces.

“I’d like to thank the tradies for all their help as it’s like a brand-new house, we are so thankful for what’s been given it to us, we really appreciate it. When I walk down the hallway and see how its changed so much it just puts a big grin on my face.” said Tristan.

Scott said: “It is not an entitlement to have a social housing home, it’s a

Hume and Port Stephens focus on housing solutions

In Australia, there are over 116,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given night.

The number of people accessing temporary accommodation in Port Stephens through Hume last financial year was 320, with a further 1,264 enquiries.

Our Senior Manager of Social Outcomes Sally Regan says temporary accommodation is in short supply in Port Stephens.

“The only temporary accommodation vendor we have been able to engage in Port Stephens is based in Raymond Terrace, which many people calling from the Bay area do not or cannot travel to — hence the difference between the 2 figures,” she said.

Assistant Manager of Port Stephens Family and Neighbourhood Services

Ann Fletcher says they helped 848 people experiencing homelessness in the past financial year including 317 children under the age of 16.

“Homelessness can often be hidden — because this is a holiday area, we expect people to be free camping or sleeping in their cars. People might think they’re just here on a holiday but really, they could potentially be a homeless person.

“Couch-surfing is particularly common for young people, who crash at a friend’s place but don’t have a place to live themselves. Then of course, there’s the domestic violence rate in our area, which is the main reason for homelessness for women and their children,” she said.

Mayor Ryan Palmer says Port Stephens Council is encouraging the community to get behind housing as a solution to ending homelessness.

“It’s really important that we all understand the impact that homelessness has on our community. There are also ways some people may be able to help practically.

“If you own a property in Port Stephens, you could help low income and disadvantaged households access housing through headleasing. Headleasing is when an owner leases a property to a community housing provider, which then sub-leases the property to clients approved for social housing.

“It’s really a win for the property owner and a win for our community,” he said.

Ms Regan says Hume is always looking for more housing options in Port Stephens.

“We have a 30-year track record of managing properties including headleasing for private landlords and are a trusted and safe pair of hands.

“We treat your property as if it was our own including managing all aspects of tenancy management together with property maintenance and repairs.

“Importantly, we ensure our customers are successful in their tenancies as our goal is to provide opportunities for people to prosper. If a tenant needs additional support, we link them with appropriate services. We make sure it’s a win-win for landlords and tenants,” she said.

Sally Regan from Hume, Mayor Ryan Palmer, and Ann Fletcher from Port Stephens Family and Neighbourhood Services.

Prepare for bushfire season I’m not at risk... am I?

bushfires are a natural part of the Australian environment and occur regularly, but many people fail to prepare for them.

When threatened by bushfires, people will often leave it too late to make critical decisions and often have few safe options left.

Follow these tips to keep you and your family safer during bushfire season:

• Clean leaves from the gutter, down pipes, and front lawn

• Keep your grass short during the summer

• Keep garden mulch and wood piles away from the house

• Store wood piles well away from the house and kept covered

• If you receive a Bushfire Alert, take it seriously and act straightaway

• Be vigilant on days that are hot, dry, and windy

• Check the Fire Danger Rating for your area every day by visiting the NSW RFS website at rfs.nsw.gov.au

• Decide on a safe place to escape to if you need to leave

• Decide on a trigger to leave – this could be a certain Fire Danger Rating or a fire within your area

If you answer ‘yes’ to one or more of these questions, then you and your family may be at risk in the event of a fire:

1 Do you live within a couple of streets of bushland?

2 Does your local area have a history of bushfires?

3 Do you have many trees and shrubs around your home?

4 If you need to leave your home, do you need to travel through bushland?

5 Is your Bush Fire Survival Plan more than one year old?

maintenance and repairs during COvID-19

Our commitment to our customers is to provide you, regardless of location, with a high-quality, customer-focused maintenance and repairs service.

We are here to make sure you have reliable maintenance and repairs because the safety and comfort of your home is very important.

Please be aware that we are making URGENT repairs only until the COVID-19 lockdowns ease. Urgent repairs include:

• a blocked or broken toilet

• a serious roof leak

• a gas leak

• a dangerous electrical fault

• flooding or serious floor damage

• the breakdown of the gas, electricity or water supply

• the breakdown of essential appliances that have been provided by Hume for hot water, water, cooking, heating or laundering

• a serious fault in a lift or staircase

• significant security threats to the premises and people

Our contractors will be following social distancing guidelines and wearing face masks to keep you and themselves safe.

EASy WAyS TO LODGE mAINTENANCE OR REPAIRS

All Hume customers can directly connect with us and book maintenance and repairs requests with us on the following channels:

• Website Live Chat and Form: www.humehousing.com.au

• Facebook Live Chat: Hume Community Housing

• WhatsApp Live Chat: (02) 9722 4300

• Repairs Email: repairs@humehousing.com.au

• Repairs Phone: (02) 9722 4300

Island Adventure for Hume Customers

Cockatoo Island is a jewel in Sydney Harbour. The former ship building site was the destination for Hume’s Sydney customers on a winter’s day in June.

A total of 41 customers boarded trains and a ferry to make their way to the island for a day of exploring and socialising.

Today, the island is home to pop up tents for overnight stays and visitors can tour a former prison on the site and view artwork showcasing the history of how the island was used in the mid 18th century, and large warehouses previously used for ship building and tunnels.

Customers enjoyed catching up with friends from across Hume with plenty of time to chat and get to know one another on the ferry ride over.

Highlights included sharing lunch together, with customers sharing an array of their cultural foods with one another including Philippine bread and Vietnamese sausages.

COMMUNITY NOTICEbOARD

SuPPORTING yOu DuRING LOCKDOWN

This year, Hume has supported 14 customers experiencing homelessness in Sydney’s West with access to long-term affordable housing during COVID-19 with the Together Home program.

The program aims to move people away from homelessness and into long-term stable housing. Together Home also aims to address people’s support needs and foster connections to their community.

If you or someone you know is experiencing homelessness or about to experience homelessness, please call Link2Home’s 24/7 hotline at 1800 152 152.

READy, SET, WALK!

Steptember is a fun and inclusive virtual event run by the Cerebral Palsy Alliance that challenges participants to walk, swim, ride, wheel, or spin their way to 10,000 steps per day during the month of September.

It’s quite the challenge, but we’re up for it to help improve the lives of children and adults who live with cerebral palsy! Hume and Bridge Housing are stepping up to the Steptember challenge and are racing each other to raise funds for womens’ shelter Lou’s Place!

Learn more about Steptember at steptember.org.au.

COMMUNITY NOTICEbOARD

TENAmbIT GRAFFITI muRAL PROJECT

Come along and create some potential designs for a new mural coming to O’Hearn Street Park! You can also watch the mural being painted live and see the community’s ideas come to life!

Times and dates are subject to changes such as weather and COVID-19 restrictions.

Community Workshops and Free bbQ

O’Hearn Street Park, Tenambit

Thursday, 7 and 14 October @ 3:30pm – 4:30pm

The mural Comes Alive

Bus shelter and selected O’Hearn Street Park fences

Saturday, 23 October @ 10am – 12pm

PERSONAL WELLbEING SuRvEy PRIZE DRAW WINNERS

A big thank you to all our Hunter customers, who completed Hume’s recent Personal Wellbeing Survey. Your responses help us to tailor the services we offer you, based on the information you provided regarding your health, wellbeing, and sense of community.

A massive congratulations to our customers who have won a share of $500 worth of shopping vouchers.

S. Borrow – Rutherford

G. O’Neill – Metford

S. Barker – Salamander Bay

W. Gibbs – Raymond Terrace

V. Harman – East Maitland

G. Beer – Metford

M. Brown – East Maitland

E. Edwards – Rutherford

A. Hooker – Tenambit

A. Sumner – Rutherford

COMMUNITY NOTICEbOARD

We’re going online!

All Hume customers are invited to join our virtual online community. We’re playing bingo, moving to music, sharing our experiences, testing our knowledge at trivia, sharing our talents and getting creative with art projects. There is something for everyone.

We have activities for children and families, young people, our over 55 customers and for everyone.

Bingo, trivia, talent shows, movement, art, and gardening workshops are just a few of the exciting and entertaining activities that we have moved online.

Our team have worked with partners such as Casula Powerhouse and the Botanic Gardens to deliver activities such as Land Arts and Stop Motion Tutorials and garden workshops.

If you find Zoom or getting online a bit scary, our team can help you get connected and participating. All you need to do is give us a call and we can help.

Hume customers who have joined have said these activities are a great opportunity to:

• Enjoy seeing others share their talents and skills

“It was so great to see people without wearing a mask!”

Online Let’s Dance & Meditate, participant

• Get to know and meet new people

• Share your own experiences at the Tuesday Sip and Share sessions

• Learn something new (e.g. Land Arts, Stop Motion, gardening tips and tricks)

• Build your confidence with being online and using Zoom and social media to stay connected

For more information or to book a spot at one of the events above, please contact Sarithya at 0491 691 977 or Richard at 0491 691 977.

It’s a rural firey affair

When Housing Officer Alicia bruinink said ‘I do’ to husband Robert, she was not just getting married, she was signing up to a partnership in the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS), where Robert has been in voluntary service for 24 years.

Alicia and her husband along with other RFS volunteers were recently presented the Premier’s Award for their heroic efforts during the terrible 2019-2020 bushfires. They will also soon be presented with a National Medal for the role they played in defending communities from bush fires.

Today Robert is Captain and Alicia, Deputy Captain, of the Peninsula RFS, based at Mirrabooka on the Morisset Peninsula in New South Wales. They have two young children who also get involved with events and are inspired by their parents.

The Peninsula Brigade volunteers attends around 160 call outs a year, which can range from bush and grass

fires to structure fires, car accidents, storm, and flood recovery as well as many other scenarios where people need help.

“My journey with the RFS started with the urge to be able to do more. I would watch my husband run out the door when the pager would go off and our son would run behind him yelling ‘go daddy go!’” said Alicia.

“Since becoming Deputy Captain of our brigade in 2019, it is a priority for me to work hard to ensure my crews safety. I thoroughly enjoy mentoring the team and hope that I have many more years to go within the RFS,” she said.

Alicia’s RFS volunteer work fits hand in glove with many of Hume Community Housing’s values, particularly

Alicia

NO mATTER WHAT yOuR AbILITIES, IT IS REALLy A GOOD FEELING TO GIvE bACK TO THE COmmuNITy.

‘Creators of Connectivity’ which embraces being passionate about people, families, and community. When you are fighting a raging bush fire that is threatening homes, lives and communities, it is a perfect match.

Alicia’s fire experience is valued at Hume, as she is also a Chief Fire Warden at the Maitland Office. Employees and customers are in very good hands, as RFS training is layered and thorough.

Alicia has held a number of RFS positions and, as well as being Deputy Captain, she is also the Secretary, Training Officer and Community Engagement Officer. Previously she served as Station Officer, First Aid Officer, and was responsible for Welfare and a Junior Member Coordinator.

The female to male ratio is still low in her Brigade –47 men and two women – so Alicia is always campaigning to get more women involved.

“I really encourage all women, especially Hume customers, who seek to make a difference, to contact the local RFS as you get so much from volunteering and there’s always a job for all, no matter what your abilities, it is really a good feeling to give back to the community.”

Alicia and her family go each Tuesday night to their station with the other volunteers to train, discuss and regroup. The members are on call for emergencies 24/7 but put in only as much as they can.

“There is ample opportunity to obtain qualifications and to progress throughout the RFS as well,” said Alicia.

“If you feel like active firefighting isn’t your thing, ask your local Fire Control Centre about being a part of a support brigade within your area. The support brigades are just as important and critical to the RFS,” she concluded.

Hume has an employee policy that supports volunteers in emergency services so are always flexible in enabling Alicia meets her commitments with the RFS.

If you are interested in getting involved in the RFS, contact your local brigade. You can find out where at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au

Support Payments

Have your hours been reduced or have you lost work completely due to the COvID-19 lockdown? COvID-19 support payments are available!

If your work has been reduced or lost due to lockdowns, hotspots, or movement restrictions, you could get up to $750 a week. How much you can get will depend on your location and your individual circumstances.

Covid payment if you DO NOT get a regular centrelink payment

You could get up to $450 a week if you lost between 8 to 20 hours a week and up to $750 a week if you lost more than 20 hours a week.

Apply at https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/ individuals/online-help/centrelink/claim-covid-19disaster-payment-if-you-dont-get-income-supportpayment

Covid payment if you DO GET a regular centrelink payment

You can get a $200 lump sum payment every week until you can return to work.

Apply at https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/ individuals/online-help/centrelink/claim-covid19-disaster-payment-if-you-get-income-support-

Kirstie now home with Hume

Neale and Kerry are the happiest they have been in decades knowing their 46-year-old daughter Kirstie has finally found a home that offers her independence, security, and a brighter future.

Kirstie has lived with a range of physical and intellectual disabilities since birth. In her twenties, Kirstie suffered a near-drowning incident while on a disability services day outing – she survived the drowning but had to spend a week on life support and suffered additional brain damage and health complications.

“Kirstie lived with us up until her late twenties. At the time we were considering her long-term care needs as we were not getting any younger. Our daughter is very vocal, enjoys conversing and spending time with people, and has independent living skills, so we felt she would be happy in a group home environment”, told Neale.

Unfortunately, finding a home that was suitable for Kirstie and provided the right level of care and combination of residents proved to be difficult.

Kirstie lived in twelve homes for over ten years, which was troubling for the family.

“There were many issues particularly around the compatibility of residents and their disability needs, plus the constant turn-over of staff made it hard for Kirstie to build relationships and sustain trust,” said Kerry.

The constant changes and inconsistent care support saw Kirstie’s mental health spiral.

“She became increasingly anxious and unhappy, and we were genuinely worried for her future,” said Neale.

The turning point came when Neale and Kerry decided to move Kirstie’s NDIS support package over to Global Disability Services. Kirstie was eligible for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) under her plan and the couple were shown a self-contained modern villa, one of in a complex of four located in the Hills District. The complex comprises of shared communal spaces for the residents and is one of Hume’s SDA group homes.

Better still, the villa is close to Neale and Kerry’s home as well as younger sister Loren’s home.

Since the move into her new home, the change in Kirstie has been profound. She loves her private villa, which features a compact lounge and kitchen, bedroom with ensuite, plus a private courtyard.

“For the first time ever, Kirstie can choose when she wants to socialise with the staff and residents in the shared kitchen or play table tennis in the communal courtyard,” said Kerry, “she is also able to retreat to her private space to enjoy peace and quiet whenever she wants.”

Kerry and Neale are proud to watch their daughter adapt to her new home and establish the solid routines she needs to live well. They are most impressed with the boost in Kirstie’s happiness and decline in her anxiety.

On the transformation in Kirstie, Kerry said: “She is the one we knew was in there but could not come out. We are finally at peace that she is safely set-up for her future.”

Kirstie enjoys weekend visits home to spend time with her family and the transformation has made these occasions even more special.

“It’s reassuring to know she has a home with excellent support onsite while being able to live life on her terms more than ever before,” said Neale.

“We couldn’t be happier with every aspect of her home and care.”

Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is a range of housing designed for people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs. SDA homes are accessible to help customers live more independently and have better access to supports in their home.

Reconciliation Action Plan

During 2020-21, Hume Community Housing developed our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan via collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members and employees.

To allow opportunities for EVERYONE to prosper, we must recognise inequality and injustice. We must be proactive in what we can do to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to succeed and prosper on their terms.

The Hume Community Housing Reconciliation Action Plan is at the Reflect stage of the Reconciliation Australia framework, which means we have begun the process of building our vision for reconciliation and developing deep and meaningful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders.

Through learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, and languages and ensuring we reflect this knowledge in our policies, practice, structures, and communications –we are contributing to long term change in Australia.

You can read the entire Reconciliation Action Plan on our website at humehousing.com.au/news/ reflectreconciliationactionplan

Our

Dusanka

makes it into the

2021 ZEST Hall of Fame

Housing Independence manager Dusanka mrdjenovic has gone above and beyond in her 14 years at Hume and was recently awarded the Hall of Fame Award at the 2021 ZEST Awards.

The ZEST Hall of Fame was designed to recognise the people within the community sector who have dedicated their lives to achieving great outcomes for the Western Sydney community.

Dusanka makes herself available at critical times for her team members, community partners, and customers. She is an empathic and passionate individual who has developed and managed unique and vital homelessness housing support programs providing access to safe homes and support to the most vulnerable people in our communities.

Dusanka has developed successful and long-term productive partnerships with not for profit and government agencies including local DCJ offices, health teams, local councils, and localised community services across Western and Southwest Sydney.

In addition to managing the Temporary Accommodation and Housing Independence programs, she manages stakeholder relationships closely and has onboarded the Together Home Project, with virtually no preparation time, in a very short time frame, to a very high standard.

Over the last five years, Dusanka and her team have provided temporary and supported accommodation to 7,043 people and assisted 2,093 customers into longer term accommodation.

The ZEST Awards winners were announced during 2021 Refugee Week, and Dusanka has lived experience of having to leave a home with very few possessions during traumatic circumstances due to civil war.

Hume would like to extend a warm congratulations to Dusanka on her well-deserved recognition.

Rental Properties now available

To be eligible for Hume’s affordable housing, you must:

• be an Australian Citizenship or permanent resident

• be able to provide ID

• live in NSW

• have a household income within set limits

• not own property that could help you with your housing needs See

Ashfield

$338PW | studio

This studio apartment in the heart of Ashfield offers a stone bench top kitchen with stainless steel oven, gas cooking, refrigerator, washer and dryer, and reversecycle air conditioning.

Oatlands

Contact us for pricing | 5 bedrooms

This newly built single-storey 5-bedroom home is in a lovely quiet neighbourhood in Oatlands and features two large living areas, a separate dining space, landscaped gardens, and a large kitchen.

Telopea

$387PW | 1 bedroom

This accessible near-new 1-bedroom unit is in a secure building within walking distance to Telopea’s public transport and features open plan living, built in laundry, balcony, and tiles throughout.

Doonside

Contact us for pricing | 5 bedrooms 2 bathrooms

Accessible and modern, this 5-bedroom 2-bathroom house in Doonside has a spacious, open plan kitchen, paved courtyard, and pergola area. There is a wellmaintained garden and lawn.

Want to look at our Specialist Disability Accommodation?

Find out more about SDA on our website and whether you are eligible. Then you can call (02) 9722 4300 and press option 4 to speak to our friendly Housing Options team!

SDA

AFFORDAbLE

SDA

AFFORDAbLE

Sudoku

Each of the nine blocks must contain all the numbers 1-9 within its squares. Each number can only appear once in a row, column or box.

Wacky Wordies

Think you know your phrases?

Test your brain by solving the visual clues for the words.

• Bet one’s bottom dollar

• Double or nothing

• Turn over a new leaf

• Trafalgar Square

• High school

• Four-wheel drive

• Turn of the century

• Growing pains

• The price is right

left to right and down:

budget buster recipes for spring

Sizzler-style cheese toast

This famous mouth-watering entrée is super easy to cook and serves 4.

Serves: 4

Ingredients

⅔ cup parmesan cheese

6 tbsp margarine

4 slices toast bread

1

2

Mix the parmesan cheese and margarine together to make a spread.

Spread the mix on one side of each slice of bread. Preheat the air fryer to 200°C, which usually takes around 3 minutes depending on the type of air fryer you have.

3 Place whatever bread you can fit into in the preheated air fryer with the spread facing up and cook for 7 minutes.

Easy self-saucing pudding

Take comfort in this dark choc self-saucing pudding that serves 6.

Serves: 6

Ingredients

165g dark chocolate, roughly chopped

170g unsalted butter, chopped

6 eggs

165g caster sugar

165g plain flour

1

2

When you are keeping an eye on your budget, it’s good to know you can eat cheaply without sacrificing nutrition and flavour. Our cheap and easy recipes will have you whipping them up in a flash.

Tip!

If you use bread from the freezer, add a minute or two to the cooking time.

3

Preheat oven to 200°C. Place chocolate and butter in a small saucepan over low heat and cook for 3-4 minutes or until melted. Remove from heat and cool completely.

Place eggs and sugar in a bowl and whisk until fluffy. Add the flour into the bowl and fold into the egg mixture. Gently fold through chocolate mixture.

Pour batter into a greased dish and tap gently to level out. Place baking dish on a baking tray and bake for 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven and stand on a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes.

Tip!

You can top the pudding with Milo, cocoa, ice cream, or whipped cream for an extra treat!

Controlling damp

Condensation

Condensation happens when the warm air in your home touches the cold glass of your windows.

This is just like when a bathroom mirror “steams up” after a hot shower. The inside or outside of your window can sweat or fog because of the temperature.

A little moisture means that your windows are keeping you insulated from the outside, but if your windows are too wet all the time, the moisture could cause mould to grow.

You can reduce the amount of condensation in your home by:

1 Opening windows and doors whenever possible

2 Opening drapes and curtains to allow sunlight in

3 Wiping down internal condensation with a cloth

4 Turning on exhaust fans

Please let us know if there are things that require attention in your home like repairing windows or exhaust fans or trimming trees that are blocking sunlight.

(02) 9722 4300

hume@humehousing.com.au

Holiday savings

With the weeks counting down to the holidays, now is a great time to think about a financial plan to help you stay in control of your money.

With careful planning, you can spoil the family and yourself and not go overboard. The more time you give yourself the better.

1 Make a calendar note of when your regular bills are due and plan to put that money aside – your rent, water and electricity and phone bills. You will feel in control and know what you have available to put towards your savings.

2 Set up a dedicated account for your holiday savings and commit to putting aside a regular amount each week or fortnight.

3 Make a list of the foods and treats you want for the holidays and buy what you can on special to freeze or store. Think about what you can cook in advance and get the kids involved to help plan and prepare as a holiday activity.

4 Use store loyalty cards from Woolworths and Coles to take advantage of bonus points offers and petrol savings.

5 Collect cash for trash – with bottle and can recycling depots, you can get extra money to add into your savings account.

6 Sort out your household this spring and sell what you no longer need or want. Old furniture, household items, and clothing can earn you extra money on Facebook Marketplace.

7 The upside of less holiday parties and events is that there is less to outlay. Choose to go to one or two events and feel free to say no to invites if they may break your bank.

8 Keep an eye on your grog, as it’s a big expense and quickly adds up. If you can have guests, ask them to BYO and have a look at the growing number of non-alcoholic drinks on the market.

9 Plan ahead and set a budget for presents. Don’t be tempted to buy more – everyone on the day will be happy to receive a gift and the little additional gifts quickly add up.

10 Use these handy budget guides and get saving! https://www.beyondbank.com.au/toolscalculators/christmas-budget.html

https://moneysmart.gov.au/budgeting/budgetplanner

We are always available to discuss any financial concerns you may have and assist you to manage your rent and water bills. Contact us on (02) 9722 4300.

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Cabrogal Country

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NSW 2150

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Claymore

NSW 2559

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Wonnarua Country

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