catch-up Hello from Peter We’re just about at the end of another year and it’s been a great one for CORT. I’m excited about the potential of our tenant workshops. They are a very useful way for us to hear what it’s like for you to be a CORT tenant and to find out your suggestions for CORT in the New Year. With this in mind, I want to share a bit about what sits at the heart of the community housing we provide. Community Housing is much more than just affordable housing. It’s also about being a part of the community in which we live. This includes being a respectful neighbour, and feeling a sense of security and belonging. We want the four walls around you to be more than just your house, to become your home and your haven.
Peter Jeffries, CEO
christmas IN THE PARK WHERE: Auckland Domain (look out for CORT banner) WHEN: Saturday 10th December 6.30 pm (ends by 10.05 pm) Make your own way there but transport home is available. Food provided by CORT – KFC (vegetarian option available)
RSVP TO CORT BY 2ND DECEMBER (First 50 people only)
Hello from Julie
Your new newsletter editor Hi, I’m Julie Dudfield. I’ve been a CORT tenant for over a year now and I love it – my own home at last! I have a long history of involvement with community housing including mental health and housing advocacy, youth housing, tenancy advice and improving housing outcomes for people on low incomes. I’m very excited to be involved in CORT’S efforts to increase tenant participation and improve communication. I will value your input and feedback.
November/December 2016 issue 3
RECIPE COMPETITION Congratulations to Graeme Wells, the winner of our recipe competition!
Here’s his recipe:
BACON & EGG PIE (serves 4 people)
WHAT YOU NEED 200 grams bacon 8 eggs 750 grams flaky pastry sheets 250 grams grated cheese (Optional) Approximate cost Without cheese: $8.92 With cheese: $9.22 WHAT YOU DO 1. PRE-HEAT oven to 180 degrees Celsius. 2. OIL base of pie/quiche dish and line with half of pastry sheets. 3. PLACE pie dish in oven to seal pastry for approximately 5-10 minutes – after oven has heated to 180 degrees. The pastry will rise a little. Remove dish from oven. 4. CUT bacon into bite-sized pieces, lightly fry, then spread evenly over the pastry. 5. CRACK eggs and tip them over the pastry evenly. 6. GRATE the cheese and sprinkle evenly over the bacon and eggs. 7. PLACE the rest of the pastry on top and either pierce holes with a fork, or use a sharp knife to make a few small cuts. 8. BRUSH with some melted butter. (Optional) 9. BAKE for 20 minutes until top is golden and filling is cooked. Enjoy!
Recipe competition Send in your favourite affordable recipe by January 31st 2017 and be in to win a $50 voucher.
November/December 2016 issue 3
HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?
Reminders Security and keys: Keys supplied to you for your home help to ensure that you, your belongings and your home are secure. They need to be looked after – but if you do happen to lose your keys, CORT has keys for each unit and can arrange to get new keys cut from these. You will need to pay for the new keys.
Rubbish: Keeping your home free of rubbish goes a long way towards keeping your home in good condition. Empty household bins regularly and use the wheelie bins (don’t forget to recycle). If you are responsible for your own wheelie bins make sure they are emptied regularly and kept clean.
Inorganic rubbish: You now need to book with
Gardening in pots
Auckland City Council for the pick-up of inorganic
If you don’t have anywhere to dig a garden you can still grow delicious summer vegies, herbs and flowers in pots.
for guidelines about what you can and can’t put out.
Here’s how • Find or buy some clay plastic pots. Lettuce, herbs and flowers will grow happily in medium-sized pots, but tomatoes will need a large pot. TIP: A cheap bucket with holes punched in the bottom is perfect for growing tomatoes.
considerate of your neighbours’ rights to peace and
rubbish from your property. Call the Council on (09) 301 0101 to find out the dates for your area, and
Noise: Being a good neighbour means being quiet enjoyment of their home. This means keeping noise, including music, to a reasonable level. This is especially important if you live in a flat or apartment with neighbours
$
living very close by.
• Potting mix – 1 large bag will be enough for a tomato plant and a few smaller pots for greens, herbs and flowers.
• Fill your pots almost to the top, water the soil and make some holes with your fingers – as deep as the length of the roots of your seedlings.
• Gently put the plants into the holes, filling in with the soil as you go. Plant as deep as the plants were in the box in which you bought them. Press down gently around the plant. Water your plants.
If you need to report excess noise ring Auckland City Council Noise Control: (09) 301 0101.
Freeview and Sky decoders: If CORT has provided you with a Freeview decoder it is considered your property. This means that you are responsible for re-tuning or replacing it. If your decoder needs re-tuning we will arrange a fair price
TENANT WORKSHOPS By now you will have either been invited to or attended one of our tenant workshops. This is a new approach for us to involve you in CORT Community Housing. We hope these workshops become a regular event and a useful way to engage with you.
with our contractor. If you would like to install a Sky dish at your property you must contact CORT and get permission first.
In upcoming newsletters we’ll keep you up to date with all your wonderful feedback and ways in which CORT may be able to respond to it. If you miss the workshops and still want to have your say, let us know and we can send you a copy of the focus group questionnaires. Contact us through your tenancy manager at info@cort.org.nz or by phone on (09) 376 3049.
p 09 376 3049 e info@cort.org.nz