www.evolvehousing.com.au
July 2017
evolving news for evolve residents
Looking to green up your home? Evolve Housing has a partnership with the Royal Botanic Garden community greening program that allows us to help residents set up their very own community garden.
Already we’ve had a number of resident groups take up the challenge of building their own community garden with great results. Why not get a group of your neighbours together and talk about how you can make it work? We’ve got a brand new brochure full
A community garden allows you to develop new skills
of information about how building your community
in gardening, grow your own food and learn about
garden space.
sustainable living. For more visit It’s a great way to engage with nature and improve
evolvehousing.com.au/communitygreening
your own health and wellbeing right in your own
Photos below: Residents in Narraweena building their
backyard.
own community garden.
NEWS 11
Council seeks to aid the battlers Melissa Yeo DESPITE average household income in Cumberland being 20 per cent lower than the Sydney average, residents are still forking out close to the same amount of rent. Over the past 10 years median household income in the area has increased only 11 per cent while median rental costs have increased by 77 per cent, faster than the Sydney average increase. Capitalising on the development in the LGA, the council is seeking to open up the rental market for lower income earners, implementing inclusionary zoning which would see at least five per cent of residential development in the Parramatta Rd corridor allocated for affordable housing.
quires development to incorporate a certain proportion of affordable housing in a development project or make equivalent cash contribution.” Areas of projected growth include such area as Merrylands, Auburn, Lidcombe and Wentworthville, similar to schemes already in place in Ultimo-Pyrmont and Green Square. However, social welfare advocates have questioned whether the proportion goes far enough. In Anglicare’s report on rental affordability they put forward a recommendation to shore up supply for those on low incomes. “That the level of affordable housing in rezoned developments under the Greater Sydney Commission Plan be revised from five to 10 per cent to between 15 and 30 per cent –
Watch “Going Green” video on our YouTube channel: Evolve Housing
youtube.com/evolvehousing
Inside • 2017 Nepean Belle Cruise • Canberra Bus Trip to Floriade • 2017 Tenant Satisfaction Survey • Struggling to pay your bills? • 2017 Homeless Connect • Barista Training this October • More handy tips from Handy Andy
Handy Andy
Events The following events are coming up: 2017 Floriade Canberra bus trip
Our expert Handy Andy answers your repair and maintenance questions!
Wednesday 20th September 2017 7am coach pickup from Parramatta
Q: Dear Andy, my house is really cold, how
Cost: $20 per person (includes lunch)
can I heat it better? Angela, Mount Druitt A: Hi Angela, remember to close off doors to
Nepean Belle Cruise
parts of the house that don’t need to heat.
Wednesday 22nd November
Electric bar heaters provide a great deal
2.5 hour cruise with buffet lunch
of concentrated heat which is ideal when
Cost: $10 per person
everyone is together keeping cozy, but can be a hazard if left on overnight. Oil heaters
Payments can be made with EFTPOS over the phone. Call Evolve
are also a low cost energy efficient way to
Housing reception to secure your spot as places are limited! Visit
heat rooms and are typically safe enough
for more event information evolvehousing.com.au/events or call
to leave on overnight if kept way from
1800myevolve (1800 693 865) if you have any further questions.
flammable items like curtains, clothes or bed linen.
More information in the next edition on: • •
Our FREE School holiday fun day will be held Wednesday
Q: Dear Andy, I’ve noticed that I am getting
4th October at Blacktown International Sports Park.
mould around my windows, what is going
The Residents Christmas party will be back in 2017. More
on?
details and the date will be announced in the next edition.
Jacob, Bankstown A: Hi Jacob, during colder months, many households will be using heaters to keep
Win one of 15 $100 Westfield Gift Vouchers
their homes warm. Once this warm air comes in contact with the window it cools, leaving behind some moisture on the glass. When this occurs over several weeks without the moisture drying, it can lead to the growth
We care about your experience as our tenant and would like
of mould. If you notice moisture on your
your feedback so that we can improve our services. One of
windows overnight, open your curtains and
the ways we do this is through our Annual Tenant Satisfaction
windows to allow the moisture to completely
Survey.
dry throughout the day. Also check out our “Treating mould in your home” factsheet at
Your feedback is anonymous. You will be receving your survey
www.evolvehousing.com.au/myevolve
in the mail in a few weeks. Just by completing the survey you will go into the draw to win one of fifteen $100 Westfield Gift
If you have any repair or maintenance
Vouchers.
questions for Andy, email myevolve@evolvehousing.com.au
1800myevolve (1800693865)
Neighbourhood Pride This edition’s Good Neighbourhood
Do you have regular resident catch
Award goes to the Joseph Street
ups, a mothers group or a book
Kingswood Local Resident Group!
club in your neighbourhood? Is
This group of go-getters created
there a group who always puts the
their own community garden over
bins out?
2 years ago (photos below) and have continued to maintain it. They
We want to know! Write in and tell
have also planted new bushes
us why your neighbourhood is great
and flowers around their complex
for a chance to WIN $500 towards
of their own accord to brighten
something for your community at
up their home for everyone.
the end of the year!
Congratulations to the Kingswood Kingswood Local Resident Group,
Send your stories to
continue the great work!
myevolve@evolvehousing.com.au
Struggling to pay your bills? Let us help! Evolve Housing offers a range of different financial support options for your family that include:
Sport grants for your kids Do your kids do sport or recreational activities outside of school? They could be eligible for our Physical Activity and Sports (PAS) grants which would cover the cost up to $660.
Get a loan from us Need a new fridge but don’t have
Do you know anyone experiencing homelessness or at-risk?
the funds saved up right now? Apply for one of our ‘evoloans’ where you can work out an interest free repayment plan.
Evolve Housing is proud to be the lead organiser once again for the 2017 Western Sydney Homeless Connect (WSHC). This FREE event connects those
For information or to register, go to:
who are homeless or at risk of being homeless with as many support service
evolvehousing.com.au/support
providers in one place, on one day, to achieve real outcomes that help put an end to homelessness. When: Monday 7th August 2017 Where: Centenary Square, Parramatta There will be free health checks, hot meals, vouchers and support available to guests on the day.
Has an Evoloan or Sports Grant helped your family in the last 12 months? Tell us how, email myevolve@ evolvehousing.com.au with your
For more information, including getting your free travel pass to attend the event go to www.wshc.com.au/2017wshc
goodnews story that could be featured in our next edition!
www.evolvehousing.com.au/myevolve
Curried pumpkin and chickpea soup Here is a delicious and affordable recipe for a hearty curried pumpkin and chickpea soup to warm you up this winter.
Barista Training this October Due to popular demand we’ve got another Barista training course available for residents in October. The course is only $20 and will teach you the skills and training to get a job as
Ingredients
a barista making delicious coffee.
• 1 tablespoon olive oil • 1 large brown onion, chopped
When: 16th October – 26th October 2017.
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
Training venues: Evolve Housing Office
• 2 teaspoons curry powder • 1.75kg butternut pumpkin, peeled, cut into 1.5cm pieces • 400g cans chickpeas, drained, rinsed
Parramatta, and Darcy Street Project, Parramatta Cost: $20 per resident
• 4 cups chicken stock • Greek Style Yoghurt and fresh coriander to serve
For more information or to register go to www.evolvehousing.com/barista
Method 1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion
Evolve in the news
and garlic. Cook for 5 minutes or until onion has softened. Add curry powder. Cook for 1 minute or until fragrant. Add pumpkin. Stir to coat. 2. Using a fork, crush half the chickpeas. Add crushed chickpeas, stock and 1 cup cold water to pan. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low. Simmer, partially covered, for
Evolve Housing was recently featured in the Parramatta Advertiser newspaper regarding
30 minutes or until pumpkin is very tender and soup has
housing affordability. Our CEO Andrea
thickened. Stir in remaining chickpeas.
Galloway spoke about the lack of affordable
3. Ladle into bowls. Top with yoghurt and coriander. Serve.
rental properties especially in Western Sydney
WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2017 PARRAMATTAADVERTISER.COM.AU as the gap community housing providers
ger if low
rent is required are trying to fill. One of Evolve’s affordable
housing tenants Cassandra kindly shared her
story about trying to find an affordable place
to live for her and her two children that didn’t
Case study THREE generations under one roof has all the hallmarks of a family sitcom but for Cassandra Coad and her young family it was no joke. The struggle to secure a two-bedroom apartment on a single parent’s wage meant she had to revert to living with her mother at their family home in Guildford. “I spent three months trying to get into the private market,” she said. “It was so competitive and I was having to take time off work just so that I could attend inspections.” Mother to Angelina, 10. and Josh, 18. she considered uprooting the family from their schools and friends to move further west to find an affordable home.. “I would have had to spent at least half my pay just to
cost half of her pay check each week.
Cassandra Coad knows all too well about the current rental market. Picture: Justin Sanson www.evolvehousing.com.au/myevolve 1800myevolve (1800693865)
hasn’t looked back since.
like Evolve have to fill the
out due to ineligibility.”