CHL Connect - July 2021

CHL

Connect National Tenant Magazine July 2021

WEST KEMPSEY’S CLEAN UP DAY RESTORES PRIDE IN COMMUNITY. PAGE 08.

INTRODUCING CHL’S NEW GRANTS PROGRAM.

CALLING ALL SA BASED ARTISTS, CHARTS AWARDS WANTS YOU!

DOVER COMPLEX: WHERE ART MEETS SAFETY.

CHL

Connect

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Inside this issue 03 Editor’s message

10 VIC news

16 QLD news

20 Household tips

04 CHL updates

12 SA news

18 Have your say

08 NSW news

14 TAS news

19 Repairs and maintenance

21 CHL and Thread Together sew into community

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22 Food corner

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EDITOR’S MESSAGE Dear Tenants, I hope you and your families are safe and healthy.

Welcome to the latest edition of our National Tenant Magazine – CHL Connect.

Editor: Preeti Daga Head of Corporate Communications

Assistance:

Freya Toloa Communications Coordinator

Copyright:

No part of CHL Connect Magazine may be reproduced without prior consent from Community Housing Ltd. If you wish to use the information, write to chlconnect@chl.org.au.

Disclaimer:

We try to make the information provided in this magazine as relevant, correct and accurate as possible at the time of going to press, but readers should seek independent advice in relation to any general content published. CHL and its subsidiaries cannot be held responsible for any changes as some of the information is reproduced from credible sources.

Data Protection:

We take the privacy of our tenants very seriously and seek consents of those tenants featured in this publication prior to printing it. CHL reserves the right to use the information and images entered by the participants in any of the competitions for any promotional purposes. If you do not wish for your submitted images to be publicised then please contact the CHL connect team in writing at chlconnect@chl.org.au.

Circulation:

As we all learn to live in a COVID normal way, things have been busy at CHL with lots of new projects and initiatives around the country. Most notable of all has been the launch of our Social Impact Framework which you all must have received communication on from our business improvement team. You would have received surveys that would assist us in measuring the impact of safe and secure housing in your lives. We value your time and feedback and thank you for your ongoing participation.

Most recently CHL and ACHL participated in the National Reconciliation Week activities around the country led by Aboriginal staff.

CHL are proud to have continued their proactive response to the COVID-19 challenge as well the floods in NSW and was able to successfully continue its service delivery across six states with our staff adapting the various state restrictions from time to time.

We are also excited to announce our Impact Grants Program which will be launched later this year for all our customers. You would be able to apply for funding to support you and your community’s dreams and goals - whether it is a TAFE course, a gym membership, art classes, driving lessons or a community event. So stay tuned for that!

We welcome your feedback and ideas so do write to us at chlconnect@chl.org.au or connect with us via our social media channels. You may also visit our website www.chl.org.au to keep up to date on matters relevant to your tenancy.

Over 8,000 readership, including tenants and staff, together with a wide range of people who have contact with Community Housing Ltd.

I hope you enjoy reading this edition. Until next time I wish you and your families the best of health and a wonderful school holiday season ahead.

Creative Concept:

Stay safe.

www.amob.com.au

Yours Sincerely,

Ana Maria Otalora Bonilla Graphics created by Freepik

Preeti Daga Head of Corporate Communications 03

CHL UPDATES

REFLECTING ON SORRY DAY National Sorry Day is held on May 26th and marks the day that the landmark ‘Bringing them Home’ report was tabled in Federal parliament in 1997.

It is a time to remember the past policies of forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and listen, learn, and feel the painful stories of the Stolen Generations. It is also the time to recognise the resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the power of saying sorry.

At the Kempsey office, the Community Housing Limited (CHL) team acknowledged and reflected on the sad and painful stories of the Stolen Generation. Respected local Elders joined in creating a beautiful ‘Sorry Day’ artwork and a morning tea.

“It was a very special, warm connecting, almost a family atmosphere during our morning tea. We reflected on the sadness of why we were together,” said Kempsey Customer Service Officer, Christine Oram-Fuller.

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JOURNEY TOWARDS RECONCILIATION National Reconciliation Week (27 May – 3 June) is a time for everyone to learn about Australia’s history, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how every one of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation.

2021 marks twenty years of Reconciliation Australia and almost three decades of Australia’s formal reconciliation process.

Reconciliation is a journey for all of us to take, individually, in family or friendship groups, communities and at work. More importantly at the heart of this journey is building and fostering relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures.

On a mission to provide better housing options for Aboriginal communities across the country, Aboriginal Community Housing Limited (ACHL), part of the CHL Group, has appointed two proud Indigenous women to oversee the delivery of ACHL’s strategic objectives.

CHL group has welcomed Stacey Broadbent as the National Manager and Cheryl Axleby as the South Australian Relationship Manager for Australia’s first independent national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led and managed community housing provider, ACHL. We recently launched our brand new ACHL website to be easy to use and navigable, and an excellent resource that caters to the needs of our tenants, partners, and community. The new website is complete with a visually appealing design, using traditional earth colours. The artwork has been exclusively created by Indigenous artist Ngarrindjeri man, Jordan Lovegrove and the website has been developed by Aboriginal agency, Dreamtime. Visit the ACHL website at www.achl.org.au.

Read more stories within to find out how some of our states’ journeys towards reconciliation is going as well as other activities.

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IMPACT GRANTS PROGRAM At CHL/ACHL, we want to help as many people as we can to achieve their dreams and goals.

That is why we are excited to share our Impact Grants Program that will launch later this year.

The best news is that this opportunity is available to all our customers across the country!

Whether it is a TAFE course, a gym membership, art classes, driving lessons or a community event, there is an opportunity for you and your community.

There are three categories: Education and Employment – provides up to $1,500 to encourage a wide range of educational and employment opportunities.

Social Connection – provides up to $300 funding towards health and wellbeing pursuits, such as sporting and fitness activities, arts and craft or music. It also includes anything that may enable inclusion, such as a car licence.

Community – provides grants up to $2,000 to community organisations, support agencies or collective groups of CHL tenants for community projects.

For further information on when and how to apply, please do one of the following: • Contact our contact centre on 1300 CHL HOUSING (1300 245 468) • Email us at impactgrants@chl.org.au • Contact your local Housing Officer or Community Development Officer • Visit the ‘Apply for Grants’ page on the CHL and ACHL websites.

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CHL LAUNCHES A NEW WAY OF MEASURING SOCIAL IMPACT Community Housing Ltd (CHL) has launched the first of its kind framework to measure the impact of safe, affordable, suitable, and quality housing on people’s lives.

Developed over a two-year period with broad customer consultation, CHL’s Social Impact Framework aims to help us better understand and the change that is experienced by customers and communities, where CHL provides housing.

Managing Director of the CHL Group, Steve Bevington said, “CHL is embarking on this exciting long-term journey towards creating an organisation that is impact-led.

“Understanding where change is occurring gives us a powerful insight into how housing creates a long-term impact on people’s lives and their communities. Gaining this understanding will help us improve our services, set national strategic and development directions and provide valuable information to our partners”.

As part of this project, CHL has sent you a survey. The survey will include questions on the changes experienced by customers since living in our housing, and how these changes impact on your health, economic participation, social connection, livability, education, and empowerment.

Roll out of our first national survey will enable us to test our approach with our customers and other stakeholders. Over the next few years, we will continue to adapt our framework as we better understand where change is taking place and make informed decisions that will improve the overall wellbeing of our customers.

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update

NSW

West Kempsey’s clean-up day restores pride in community Community clean-ups is one of the best ways to clean up the neighbourhood, but also rally the community together to raise awareness and ideas towards building and maintaining a vibrant and thriving community.

The West Kempsey community did just that with the help from CHL, the Kempsey Shire council and other local housing providers and community centres.

Support and other services including tradespeople were on-hand to address any immediate issues related to waste build up in the home, provide information on waste education and other programs, as well as help with the barbecue throughout the day.

Many in the community turned up on the day sharing their ideas and improvements with us to rejuvenate the neighbourhood including the 08

The CHL Kempsey team at the West Kempsey clean-up day.

opportunity to co-design future projects, and a chat with their tenancy team about individuals or families who might be slipping through service gaps, enabling the team to facilitate linkages to the appropriate services.

Customers even said, “This is the best the community has looked in years,” and, “[It] restores a sense of pride in the community”.

CHL would like to acknowledge and thank our partners in making this fantastic day such a resounding success – Aboriginal Environmental Health – NSW Health, Burrun Dalai Aboriginal Corporation, Kempsey Neighbourhood Centre, Kempsey Shire Council, Many Rivers Regional Housing, Mohawks Lawn and Garden – Macleay Options, Wesley Mission and of course, the West Kempsey Community.

Corroboree Mosaic Unveiled

Meet CHL tenant, Robert

The CHL team in Kempsey has worked with community to assist the completion of a mosaic that was first begun in 2005 during the Croc Festival at Kempsey, with facilitating artist Guy Crosley listening to design ideas from Uncle Richard Campbell. During this event, hundreds of school children and others created the mosaic before it disappeared for 15 years.

Robert had presented to our office seeking temporary accommodation after the recent NSW floods.

After it was recently re-discovered, CHL and Kempsey Neighbourhood Centre found funding to re-engage Guy Crosley and local artist, Elwyn Toby to see the work completed at Dunghutti Elders in a fantastic, huge space out the back.

The street had been completely devastated by flood waters and possibly the worst in Port Macquarie.

On the last day of National Reconciliation Week, the community gathered for the unveiling ceremony arranged by Kempsey Shire Council, at its new permanent home in the centre of town, the work will adorn the Westpac Bank building on Smith Street.

Robert had presented to our office seeking temporary accommodation and tried to apply for social housing. He met with Jim, CHL’s Housing Options Worker who explored what options were available to him, but because Robert works, he was just over the income limit to qualify.

The 16-year journey to complete this beautiful piece of art has truly been one of community involvement and support from many services that fittingly reflects the mosaic’s theme of Corroboree.

Jim then liaised with our tenancy team and discovered that we could possibly help him through the NRAS scheme.

The property he was living in at the local caravan park was directly opposite the Hastings River in Port Macquarie, which had waters rise at record levels.

Unfortunately, Robert was directly affected and in turn had lost all his furniture, clothes, belongings, and his car. He was sleeping in his daughters’ garage since the floods.

Robert was introduced to CHL Housing Officer, Melissa on the day and discussed how we might further assist. Melissa discovered Robert qualified for housing under the National Rental Affordability scheme (NRAS). Melissa searched and found a property suitable for Robert.

Now Robert proudly lives in his new property and looks forward to making it his own.

Note: Important notice for our NSW residents under the Social Housing Management Transfer Program.

From 1st July 2021, please be advised that CHL will be responsible for all maintenance repair requests and after-hours emergency maintenance.

You can contact maintenance on 1300 424 573. For all other tenancy related matters, please call your Tenancy Worker during business hours.

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update VIC

A return to in home inspections After being unable to visit our tenants during 2020, CHL has recommenced inspections of all our properties with some small, practical changes in line with COVID-19 and safety precautions in place to protect both your household and staff.

These changes include things like a phone call from our friendly staff with set of health focused prescreening questions, the attending Housing Officer will have hand sanitiser, gloves and a mask that they may use at the inspection should you wish and social distancing during the inspection.

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If you have any concerns about CHL staff visiting your property, if you are isolating, have tested positive to COVID-19 or have other household members who are vulnerable, please let your housing officer know immediately.

As always, inspections are a great opportunity to meet the team and identify/report any maintenance concerns or damage. We look forward to seeing you and reconnecting during 2021.

Meet Rian, CHVL’s new State Operations Manager Rian (he/him) joined the Community Housing Victoria Limited (CHVL) team in December after spending the last 14 years working in both social housing tenancy management and government policy/project development. Based in Box Hill, he looks after all the operations across Victoria including Housing and Homelessness and is keen on continuing and improving the customer experience, sustainable tenancies, and pathways to outcomes.

Outside of work Rian loves to travel (mostly in Australia now), go on adventures with his dog and partner, eat great food and plan his wedding to his future husband.

Replaced your globes?

When was the last time you had your globes replaced? Good news, the Victorian Government has partnered with GLOWER to replace any globe with LED globes at no cost! The globes are installed for you, have a 2-year replacement warranty, emit 65% less heat and reduces risk of house fires, your energy usage and electricity bills.

Simply call 03 9007 7878 or visit www.glower.com.au.

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update SA

Our SA tenants hit the dance floor and belted out some tunes with our Good To See You concert series.

Good To See You concert series entertains Across March and May, CHL SA tenants were treated to an exciting entertainment series as part of the Grants for Seniors funding from the Office for Ageing Well.

Three jam-packed performances took place at North East Community House and the City of Prospect’s Eliza Hall with many of our senior tenants taking the opportunity to enjoy attending live performances once again.

CHL is continuing its partnership with the City of Prospect and will be providing complementary tickets for CHL tenants to attend one of the bimonthly ‘Out of the Square’ concerts held on Wednesdays at Eliza Hall.

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Upcoming concerts are: Date: Wed 18 August Event: 88 Keys - A tribute to Piano Greats Date: Wed 20 October Event: Our Willsy with special guest Peter Goers Date: Wed 8 December Event: Sinatra and Friends How to get tickets? Enter the draw by contacting the CHL SA office to nominate you and a friend and which date(s) you would like to attend. Tickets will be drawn at random two weeks prior to the event and tenants will be advised. For more information, visit the ‘Events’ page for South Australia on the CHL website.

CHARTS Competition: Calling all artists Are you an aspiring, emerging or established artist?

Introducing the inaugural CHARTS Competition (Community Housing Art Awards South Australia).

Community Housing Limited (CHL)/Aboriginal Community Housing Limited (ACHL) tenants here in South Australia are invited to submit their best work to the statewide community housing art competition. The winner of each category will receive a prize to the value of $500 and all finalists will be invited to attend a gala presentation dinner, plus have their artwork exhibited around the state.

Entry brackets: • Youth (18 and under)

Categories: Framed/Hanging - non digital art on flat surface Canvas, paper, etc.

Photography/Digital/Graphic Art - Any digital media created art. Still images, no video content.

3D/Sculpture - Any art not on flat surface.

Sculpture, wood carving, furniture.

• General (19 and over)

Poetry and Literature - Any written art forms. Short stories, poems (1500 words max).

• Established Artist (have sold or exhibited art previously)

Entries open 1 July, 2021 and for more information you can head to www.chartsawards.com.au

Movers and Shakers Over the past few months, CHL SA has seen our team grow significantly. We have farewelled our Housing Officer, Denise.

“Over my time at CHL, I have had some close and warm relationships with some of my tenants, and I count it a privilege to be a part of their lives to advise, help and support tenants in their housing journeys,” said Denise.

We have also welcomed new staff to the CHL family. Pictured from left to right is Simon Hollitt (ICT Technician), James Strange (Field Services Officer), Dianne Munson (Housing Officer), Diane Collins (Housing Officer), Nelly Hemer (Customer Service Officer), Philip Vaughan (Internal Maintenance Service Supervisor) and Cheryl Axleby (ACHL Relationship Manager SA).

CHL SA’s journey to reconciliation The SA CHL and ACHL office in Prospect held their National Reconciliation event. With special guest, well known Aboriginal Artist, Peter Sharrock in attendance, the team came together to create a series of paintings for the office.

Plenty of hidden talent was uncovered with many amazing pieces created.

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update TAS

CHL Maintenance Assistant Supervisor, Billy Cadman in his element.

How CHL’s apprenticeship program helped Billy go from home fixer to homeowner Like many young people, Billy Cadman left school feeling unsure what his future held. He knew he wanted a job, his hard-working Dad had shown him the importance of a good work ethic and what secure employment could provide. But Billy felt lost nonetheless.

Growing up in the northern suburbs of Launceston, in what Billy describes as the rougher parts of town, he felt lost. He applied for a few jobs, but his heart wasn’t in it. It was when Billy was forced to work for the dole, that he quickly realised he needed something real, something that would make a difference and with a career path.

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“Every local in the area is familiar with CHL and the work and housing they provide. One day I was chatting with Brett Mansell from CHL, and he mentioned that I might like to look at a trainee apprenticeship opportunity with the maintenance team that was on offer.

“I figured I had nothing to lose and went along to the interview. I got the job and have never looked back and now as a 23-year-old I have been able to recently purchase my very own home!

“CHL has been a great organisation to work for, with their help I have completed my Certificate III in Horticulture. I am now fully licenced thanks to their support and encouragement and they have funded my Health and Safety Rep training, which is something I am really enjoying.

“The best part, the work we do, it really makes a positive difference to people’s lives.

“It’s great when the tenants come out and join us on the garden projects, it gives them a sense of ownership and keeps them busy”.

Joining CHL in 2016 as a trainee apprentice, Billy has since been promoted to Maintenance Assistant Supervisor and was also one of the first members of the CHL Aboriginal Employee Alliance, actively advocating for opportunities for Indigenous staff and tenants.

When asked if Billy would recommend his path to others.

“I can honestly say, I love my job and I hope that I have many more years at CHL, doing good work for good people.

“It’s been a great way to get into the workforce with no experience. It’s hard on this side of town, but we are lucky that CHL want to hire people from the local area and give them a chance”.

Dover complex: Where art meets safety CHL TAS’ community development team has been working in partnership with the Northern Suburbs Community Centre as part of an arts project that will see the painting of blocks and walls in several unit complexes within the Better Housing Futures’ portfolio in Launceston.

The latest project to get an artistic facelift is CHL’s complex in Dover, where youth from the area came together under the guidance of local artist, Fakington Wilde as part of the initiative to help paint the six one-ton blocks.

Community Development Officer Brett Mansell said, “This project is the beginning of a sustained effort to beautify certain areas of the suburbs we work in. It will continue over the next 12 months and could not happen without the energy and efforts of the Northern Suburbs Community Centre youth program”.

The blocks at the Dover complex had been strategically placed in a move to stop motor bikes and other vehicles from hooning through the area.

The next complex slated for an artistic facelift is Alwinton Court. Watch this space!

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The CHL team at the Maryborough office showing their appreciation for the Baby Give Back goods they’ve received and been able to hand out to customers in-need.

update

QLD

CHQL partners up with Baby Give Back (BGB)

In late December, CHQL was excited to commence a new partnership with Baby Give Back (BGB), a Gold Coast based charity that helps families in need.

Since December, we have called on BGB on 11 occasions helping our families with an estimated $5,000 worth of clothing, cots, toys, books, nappies, wipes, and toiletries. Tenants from Roma, Maryborough, Toowoomba and up and down the Gold Coast have been able to benefit.

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As an added bonus to the relationship with BGB, we discovered recently some of our very own Vision Tenants, who are champion crocheters and knitters, contribute regularly to BGB through the weekly Knit and Chat group at Varsity Lakes Community Resource Centre.

From little things big things grow – Celebrating our origins Celebrated Aboriginal singer songwriter, Kev Carmody’s 1993 song ‘From little things big things grow’ beautifully captures the achievements of two of our tenants who got together and started something big.

Pam and Anne met at a Gold Coast Women’s group and established Gold Coast Vision Housing Limited in 1992. As word of mouth spread, they grew from five to 26 homes. Collectively, this group of tenants are affectionately referred to as the ‘Vision Tenants’.

In 2006, we saw the amalgamation of the company with Gold Coast Community Housing and following some name changes over the years, they are now part of CHQL within the CHL Group of Companies.

Now in their 80’s and 70’s respectively, Pam and Anne are proud of what they achieved. Pam, former Secretary of Gold Coast Vision Housing said,

Vision Tenants meeting with QLD CD Manager, Connie in April, 2021.

“When I look back and think about what we achieved, I am really proud. Housing affordability and housing shortage was a really big problem back then and I’m saddened by how great the need for affordable housing still is today”.

Meet Connie – CHL QLD’s Community Development Manager Willy Mitchell, local artist and CHQL resident in Mitchell near Roma.

Supporting Our Tenants – Willy Mitchell’s Art CS Lewis once said, “You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream”.

How true this is for one of our Queensland customers William, who in his later years, has discovered a talent for Aboriginal and bush focused art. Assisted by regional employment agency RESQ+, William’s newly found talent has given him a new lease on life.

William (‘Willy’) Mitchell is a Mitchell boy in more than just name. Born at the local hospital, Willy has lived his whole life in and around the area; one hour’s drive west of Roma, Queensland where one of CHQL regional offices is located.

Welcome Connie Crookshanks to the CHQL family and to the newly formed role of Community Development Manager for Queensland.

Connie joined us from Churches of Christ Housing Services, where she led on several community engagement initiatives including running tenant engagement groups, writing the tenant newsletters and the most recent Annual Reports. Connie also set up and ran the award winning DigiAsk digital outreach service.

Connie says, “In the last few months, I’ve really enjoyed getting to know tenants, local stakeholders and the wider team at CHQL. I am learning to navigate the Gold Coast; I have had a quick visit up to Maryborough and I have just returned from a trip to Roma”.

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Have Your Say CHL aims to provide a high standard of service in all areas of our operations. We recognise however that there are times when tenants affected by our operations may wish to comment on or complain about an aspect of our service.

CHL values and appreciates all the customer feedback you have kindly shared with us. Your compliments, insights and feedback are invaluable.

Your information helps guide improvements in not only how we deliver our services to you, but also in ensuring that our policies and procedures are fair and transparent.

Any feedback that you choose to provide, CHL appreciates and aims to resolve any issues in a timely manner.

If you are unsure of where you can send this information, you can lodge your feedback in writing, over the telephone, on our website or in person and have it treated as formal feedback.

Remember you have the right to register a formal complaint when dissatisfied with issues about our service.

Did you know?

You can find information such as our complaints and appeals policies, processes and timeframe guidelines via: • Phoning our staff on 1300 245 468 • Visiting our website on www.chl.org.au • Visiting any one of our office locations (while adhering to that office’s COVID-19 guidelines).

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Repairs and maintenance CHL’s highly trained agents will help to diagnose your repair query and will assess whether your request is an emergency, urgent or a routine repair.

Type of Repair

Description and Timeframe

Urgent Repairs

Consists of those which may cause serious harm towards a person or serious damage to the property e.g. storm, fire damage, gas leak, serious roof leak, a burst water service or sewage blockage and other faults that make the premises unsafe.

Priority Repairs

Consists of those of which may cause serious damage to the property and must be maintained within 24-hours* of filing the request to reduce the risk of it becoming an urgent matter e.g. failure of oven, stove or hot water service.

Normal Repairs

Consists of those which are not threatening to a person or damaging to the property but still need to be repaired within a 21-day timeframe*.

*These timeframes may differ state to state.

For leasehold properties, the landlord is responsible for routine repairs. In most cases, CHL will get urgent work fixed within four hours. The response times to each category may vary depending on where you live.

For all repairs and maintenance queries, call us on 1300 424 573 during business hours 7 days a week. You can also email us at maintenance@chl.org.au.

For any urgent and emergency repairs, you can call us on 1300 424 573 outside of our normal office hours, evenings and weekends. If you need police, fire or ambulance in an emergency, call Triple Zero (000).

Emergency and out-of-hours service If you need police, fire or ambulance in an emergency, call triple zero (000).

For more information visit our Maintenance page on our website.

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Household tips Fight against winter mould

Step 3: Remove the mould

Getting rid of mould in your home takes time and elbow grease – and you probably won’t be using that ‘miracle’ mould killer you picked up at the supermarket.

Our experts recommend using diluted vinegar, which causes mould to overeat and die.

It is important you don’t just ignore mould growing in your home. It can give off toxic spores and vapours, which can be dangerous to your health – possibly resulting in allergic reactions, asthma and flu-like symptoms.

How to remove mould yourself Step 1: Assess the damage Before starting, work out what kind of surface the mould has attached to: • If the mould is on something that’s super-porous, like a textile, clothing or furniture, there’s a good chance it can’t be completely removed and it may need to be thrown out. Anything like wicker baskets, textiles, paper and cardboard or carpet needs to be chucked away – don’t even bother with these surfaces. (And don’t just let carpet dry out if there’s been water damage, as mould spores will be left behind, buried in the carpet fibres).

• Non-porous surfaces such as hard plastics should be relatively easier to clean.

• Semi-porous surfaces will be variable.

Mould in bathroom grout or silicone When mould grows, it develops hyphae, or roots, which grow into the grout or silicone. You can clean the surfaces of the grout or silicone, but not deep into it. In those cases, you may have to replace the silicone or re-grout your bathroom.

Step 2: Vacuum the mould The next step is to vacuum up the mould, but your vacuum cleaner needs a good HEPA filter, otherwise you could be making the problem worse by spreading the mould around.

How to use vinegar to clean mould • Pour a concentration of 80% vinegar to 20% water into three buckets.

• Grab a microfibre cloth, dip it into the first bucket, then use it for cleaning a patch of mould.

• The same microfibre cloth should then be rinsed in the second bucket, then rinsed again in the third to ensure cross-contamination doesn’t occur.

• Microfibre cloths, which reach deep into tiny crevices and have a slight electric charge, can be bought cheaply and washed on a hot cycle in the washing machine with vinegar up to 100 times.

• After using vinegar, there may still be streaks or discolouration on surfaces which you should be able to remove with bleach.

How to prevent mould from coming back Lastly, here are some tips for preventing mould from growing in the home: • Fix any external entry points for moisture in your home • Install a good exhaust fan in the bathroom and prevent moisture build-up on surfaces. Squeegee or towel-dry your tiles and floors immediately after showering, and make sure you clean bathroom scum, which mould feeds on.

• Ventilate your home. Inadequate ventilation is one of the main reasons homes become vulnerable to mould growth. When the air stops moving, you can get a build-up of humidity and moisture in those areas. If you can’t ventilate, think about a dehumidifier for the room.

• Avoid air drying clothes indoors, especially without adequate ventilation.

• Be careful about extreme differences in heat between indoors and outdoors (for example, having super cold air conditioning when it is 40°C outside) as condensation will form if there is a gap in the window or you open the door.

• Mould needs organic matter – such as dust or dead skin cells – to thrive, so it is important to keep up with regular vacuuming and dusting.

Credit: www.choice.com.au

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CHL and Thread Together sew into the community In case you missed it, CHL and Thread Together have partnered together to provide clothing to CHL customers who are going through a difficult time.

Thread Together, an online wardrobe diverts brand new clothing that would normally go to landfill and instead redistributes them to people in need via a number of registered charity partners and social services including CHL. CHL’s homelessness and housing teams across our Australian offices are able to provide customers with clothing if needed.

Several of our teams have made their orders so if this might be you, please reach out to our teams on 1300 245 468.

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FOOD CORNER RECIPE OF THE MONTH

Laksa Noodle Soup Find yourself running out of food ideas this winter? Warm yourself up with a deliciously fragrant Laksa noodle soup.

Serving: 2

Prep: 15 minutes

Cook: 45 minutes

Total: 1 hour

Ingredients Chicken stock • 500 ml chicken stock/broth • 250ml water • 3 chicken drumsticks

Laksa broth • 1 ½ tbsp oil • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 2cm piece of ginger, finely grated • 1 lemongrass, white part grated • 2 birds eye chillis, finely chopped • 175g laksa paste • 400g coconut milk can • 2 tsp fish sauce

Noodles • 50g vermicelli noodles, dried • 100g hokkien noodles, optional • 80g bean sprouts • 80g tofu puffs, cut in half

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Laksa Chilli Sauce • ½ tsp sugar, white • 1 ½ tsp soy sauce, light or all purpose • ½ garlic clove, minced • 1 ½ tsp Laksa paste • 1 tbsp Sriracha sauce, or other chilli sauce • 1 tbsp chilli paste from jar, or more Sriracha • 1 tbsp vegetable oil, or any plain oil

Garnishes • Fresh coriander • Lime wedges • Crispy friend shallots • Finely sliced red chilli

Instructions Chicken stock

Assemble Laksa

Place Chicken stock ingredients in a medium saucepan over high heat. Bring to simmer, then reduce to medium high.

Prepare noodles per packet directions.

Cook for 25 minutes or until chicken flesh is falling off the bone and liquid reduces by about 1/3.

Discard skin, pull flesh off the bone and place in bowl, discard bone. Set broth aside.

Laksa chilli sauce Mix ingredients together in a small bowl. Set aside for 20 minutes.

Laksa broth Heat oil in a large saucepan or small pot over medium low heat. Add garlic and ginger, sauté for 20 seconds, then add lemongrass and chillis. Cook for 1 minute.

Divide noodles between 2 bowls. Top with shredded chicken.

Pour broth over chicken. Top with beansprouts.

Sprinkle with Garnishes you choose to use. Serve with Laksa Chilli Sauce on the side.

Enjoy!

Do you have a recipe you would like to share? Send your recipe to us at chlconnect@chl.org.au Sourced from recipetineats website.

Add laksa paste. Turn heat up to medium and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly, or until fragrant.

Add chicken stock, coconut milk, fish sauce and 2 tsp of Laksa chilli sauce. Place lid on and simmer on for 10 minutes.

Adjust to taste using lime juice (for sour) and fish sauce (for saltiness). Add tofu puffs. Leave on turned off stove with lid on for 5 minutes.

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