The CWH TV crew have been busy working on some exciting new projects over the past few months. The team have been focusing on community awareness and the positive impact being a CWH resident in affordable housing can create in our local area.
This year is the second year we’ve engaged CHIA NSW to conduct our annual Tenant Satisfaction Survey. We’re happy to see improvements in various areas including ability to influence decision making and tenant involvement which have increased by 11% and 9% respectively. You can see the full 2019 results and our commitments at https://www.citywesthousing.com.au/tenant-survey
Letters from the Landlord
Lisa had been living in Glebe for 11 years when she received a letter from her landlord that the apartment complex she was living in had been sold. Not knowing what this meant for her current housing, Lisa soon found out it she was going to incur a whopping $160 a week rent increase.
Lisa was in her 60’s by this stage and working 10-12 hour days as a shift worker. Lisa came to the realisation that the new rent was not sustainable and made the decision to move. “Ihad anxiety every time I got a letter what it would mean, whether the landlord was selling or putting up the rent as I had experienced both.” However, with work and life circumstances it was no easy feat to find a safe, affordable apartment in the city.
Lisa put her belongings in storage and was staying with a friend when she received an offer from CWH.
Sunday 16 June wasn’t just any ordinary Sunday. It was the day of the first-ever Sunday Best community lunch hosted by CWH in partnership with the City of Sydney.
The lunch began with a quick session of networking and reconnecting, neighbours meeting new neighbours and old friends. What an astonishing sight it was, to see so many people from different backgrounds and ages chatting, laughing and hugging in the one room. The buzz and excitement was infectious!
Last month, Hoyne released its second volume of The Place Economy, a project that sets out to prove the link between better placemaking and societal benefit, via a collection of case studies, interviews and feature stories. Considered global thought leaders in place branding and placemaking The Place Economy showcases the brilliant outcomes that arise when government, commerce and communities listen to each other and collaborate in the building of cities.
Hoyne reached out to City West Housing to feature our development The Platform Apartments in this latest volume, shining the spotlight on the potential for CHP’s to produce developments that reach high levels of design both aesthetically and contribute to vibrant communities. The Platform Apartments in Eveleigh were designed by Architectus who also interviewed for our feature.
Not sure how and what to recycle? Confused by what’s allowed in which bins? Many of us are in the same boat. There is so much confusing information out there and it’s hard to know exactly what goes where. If this is you, and you would like to know more about how to demystify recycling read on…
The main piece of legislation that guides how CWH manages your legislation is the Residential Tenancies Act 2010. There have been changes to what the Act says about domestic and family violence. From 28 February 2019:
Tenants experiencing domestic violence can now end their tenancies by serving a DV termination notice, with relevant evidence, and vacating.
A victim-survivor of domestic violence will be protected from breach fees and costs for property damage in some circumstances.
Why a RAP?
CWH believes it has a role to play in building a pathway for Reconciliation. This requires a good understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) culture and history as well as contemporary issues.
RAPs help us, as a sector, ensure that we are working with and being guided by ATSI people on making sure our housing services are culturally safe and accessible, and that we are playing a role in addressing the dispossession, disadvantage and hardship faced by ATSI peoples.
Several months ago, our resident advisory group ‘Tenants’ Voice’ raised with us that they would like to have a CWH stall at Mardi Gras Fair Day, with support from CWH staff. Mardi Gras fairDay is a large community event that signifies the opening weekend of Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Over 80,000 patrons flock to Victoria Park in Camperdown for a day filled with live entertainment, over 200 stalls, and food and drink outlets.
At City West Housing (CWH) we are committed to providing the best possible service for our residents and improving our understanding of the service areas where we excel and where there are opportunities to improve.
CWH is working with the Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA NSW) to administer our 2019 Tenant Satisfaction Survey. By now you should have received a letter from CHIA NSW, along with a copy of the 2019 annual resident survey to complete. You can complete the survey either online or hardcopy.
