What is the Poor Middle Class?
“I’ve changed my opinion of homelessness, I’m not proud of myself for having negative thoughts of the homeless...I have a different attitude now.” Eight years ago Di had a responsible job as an accountant, a house that she owned and, although her marriage had broken down, a good relationship with her ex-husband and children. After a series of unfortunate events including a failed business venture and a disagreement with the ATO (which Di is pleased to say was resolved) Di lost her house and found herself living with her parents. Di lived with her parents for over a year, during this time she was mindful of the stress this placed on them. Taking matters in hand she searched ‘housing for women’ on the internet. Di soon became a tenant with Women’s Housing Ltd (WHL) in the Brighton rooming house. She was happy with the area, the location was close to public transport and she found a new job...things were changing for Di! Di had previously owned and lived in a four bedroom house with two lounge areas. The rooming house consisted of a room with shared kitchen facilities and a common lounge area. She had never rented before and didn’t know what to expect. Even though Di maintained good relationships with her neighbours she found living in a rooming house tiring and challenging. She was very aware of the different opinions within the rooming house and while she didn’t necessarily agree with other tenants’ lifestyles and values she continued to be respectful and understanding, which can sometimes be difficult when neighbours are knocking on your door late at night. Di was on a huge learning curve. Around this time Di’s health started to suffer. The stress was getting to her. Medical expenses were high and morale was low. She was frustrated by people judging her position. “Walk in my shoes $224 a week is just not enough when paying rent. Centrelink is poverty”. She never expected to be in this situation, living one day to the next, dealing with Centrelink, struggling to buy stockings for a job interview. “How did this happen?” Di calls herself the poor middleclass. She explains this as ‘coming from a good family but fallen on bad times in my 50s’. Di felt isolated and alone but she persevered. She was proactive and learned to live thrifty, got a good doctor and took advantage of all available opportunities. She cultivated compassion, empathy, motivation and enthusiasm. The Brighton rooming house was home to Di for 2.5 years before a community housing property at Bentleigh became available. Bentleigh provided Di with a home, space and privacy, finally Di had a stable environment and she was able to work on improving her health. Di has developed supportive relationships with her neighbours at Bentleigh and feels part of a strong community. Through WHL Di has had the opportunity to be part of the Money For Jam project, has participated in Blue Chip Minds workshops and is currently a member of the Women’s Advisory Group (WAG). Her contribution is valued by WHL and the other tenants involved. “While I have the time I’ll make the time to contribute.” The support and empathy of Women’s Housing Ltd has helped Di get back on her feet. She is grateful for what she has and feels fortunate for the help WHL have provided. “I would love to know that the directors get to read this, I want them to know how Women’s Housing Ltd has changed my life. I’m extremely grateful for the extra assistance the staff has provided me over the years it has given me back a good quality of life.” Di hopes that sharing her story may help women experiencing the same path realise that they are not alone or the only one going through it. She understands how isolating life can be. WHL would like to thank Di for sharing her experiences, time and insights and we hope that her story will give other women strength to connect with people and support services and encourage them to never give up.
Style Me
Style Me was the first in a series of ongoing events designed to offer some useful information to our Women’s Housing community. A team of experts from Wear for Success and many of our tenants attended and enthusiastically discussed how to look good on a budget.
"I never get to do nice things just for me - this has been so good"
"Oh, I look amazing - thanks for my nice clothes. I have learnt some valuable tips on how to create outfits"
Women’s Housing Ltd would also like to acknowledge the support from Wear for Success, Country Women’s Association of Victoria and Richmond Community Learning Centre.
Rise Up
Georgia Ellis from Blue Chip Minds provided a fresh and invigorating session to tenants. The session, Rise Up highlighted the importance of the mindset and how this can be shaped to make better decisions for our future.
Some of the comments from the training included:
"I wish I had known about this material years earlier - looking forward to practicing these tools"
"Looking forward to incorporating techniques into my everyday life"
"I am really grateful that I had the opportunity to attend this training - I hope I get to cross paths with Georgia and Blue Chip Minds again"
The room was buzzing with excitement throughout the training. Women's Housing Ltd hope to be able to provide more training opportunities to tenants in the future.
Style Me
The Women’s Advisory Group presents:
Tuesday 26 March 11am – 2pm
Style Me is the first in a series of ongoing events designed to offer some entertainment, engagement and useful information to our Women’s Housing community. A team of experts will provide tips on how to look good on a budget. Bring a pen and paper and your enthusiasm!
Women’s Housing Ltd would like to acknowledge the support from Wear for Success, Country Women’s Association of Victoria and Richmond Community Learning Centre.
“Style is something each of us already has, all we need to do is find it” – Von Furstenberg
For more information click here.
Money For Jam
Working with Women’s Housing Ltd, Fitted for Work and En Masse, Per Capita delivered both class-based learning and a smartphone app program in 2018. These programs supported women to learn small business skills and tools to grow their confidence, using positive psychology, mentoring and peer support networks. With support from the Reichstein Foundation, participants in the Money For Jam program made their own digital story. [video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://womenshousing.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10000000_1240906952742247_9216496282693503413_n-1.mp4"][/video] Into the future, Per Capita hopes to scale Money For Jam into a successful membership-based model, supporting single mothers in additional to older women. If you’d like more information, or to get involved, contact info@percapita.org.au
Melbourne Design Week
Women’s Housing Ltd’s CEO, Judy Line, is involved in an exciting project with Monash University as part of Melbourne Design Week. Judy will be joining Sophie Dyring, Dr Kate Raynor and Justine Hadj as a panelist at a symposium on ‘Women and Shelter’. Concepts discussed will include: Can addressing a new social agenda bring innovation to design outcomes? and what happens when we design neighbourhoods, policy and housing for exceptions to the social norms existing in current housing models? When: 20 March 2019, 9am to 5pm Where: Clemenger Auditorium at the NGV For more information or to book tickets please click here
Ascot Vale
Veronica, Housing Services Manager, Valerie Mosley, Chair, Judy Line, CEO doing a final walk through of the Ascot Vale property.
WHL are very excited to see tenants moving back in.
Bayswater Build Continues…
Where did the basement go?
Congratulations 2018 UDIA Winner!
On 7 December 2018, Judy Line accepted the 2018 UDIA Award for Affordable Development. ClarkeHopkinsClarke with Buildcorp Commercial received the award for their outstanding design and development of Women’s Housing Ltd’s Newport property.
“...the project achieves good quality, affordable and safe housing for at-risk women-led households. While designed to maximise yield, it has a carefully thought-out design which gives a high standard of living and a sense of ‘home’ for residents. ...the overall complex evokes a feeling of comfort, security and peacefulness.” Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria Division) UDIA 2018 Awards for Excellence, 2018 Winners, Supplement Booklet.
Bayswater Build Continues
The basement is taking shape...