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- Published: Tuesday, 03 December 2019 12:43
Bridge Housing today formally launched a wonderful Community Room at Elger St Glebe.
Residents can use the Community Room for a range of activities including to hold tenant meetings, weekly art classes, use or learn how to use computers, participate in the Godlen Oldies Club or receive visits from their support providers. There is also an active Community Garden group at Elger St.
Uncle Alan Murray gave a Welcome to Country on behalf of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation and Brendan Kerin performed a Smoking Ceremony. Members of the Sydney Street Choir gave a wonderful performance for today’s launch.
The Community Room was furnished and equipped with a Social Housing Community Improvement Grant from the Department of Communities and Justice and Bridge Housing funds.
It has become a meeting place of residents across the three buildings that comprise the 158 seniors social housing homes Bridge Housing has managed since their completion in 2018 on land owned by the Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC).
Special guests at the event included Deputy Mayor Jess Scully and Councillor Craig Chung from City of Sydney Council; Judy McCormick and Lee Herold from the Department of Communities and Justice, John Tikisci from NSW Police, Justin Hewitt from The Princes Trust, Michael Zandaro from Studio Zandaro, the Benevolent Society, OzHarvest and Uniting Care.
John said: “The history of Glebe is inextricably linked to the history of social housing in NSW. Bridge Housing may be a ‘newcomer’ in the context of Glebe’s social housing history – however, we share the aspirations of many, many people who came before us: for everyone to have a right to safe, secure and affordable housing as the foundation for participation in social, economic and cultural life. As CEO of Bridge Housing, I am incredibly proud of Elger Street and what it has meant for our residents, organisation and sector.
Firstly, it is an example of a successful partnership between the community housing sector and the NSW Government. Projects such as Elger Street build the sector’s capacity to undertake development activity, achieve organisational scale and growth, and increase the supply of social housing for people in greatest need. Secondly, it has enabled Bridge Housing to deliver on our mission to improve lives through affordable homes and quality services, which is consistent with our values, and, indeed, the social housing history of this area.
Above everything else, though, it is the residents of Elger Street – as individuals, friends, advocates and a thriving community – which fills me with the greatest pride and joy.”
He thanked the Elger St Residents Committee members for their commitment to creating a genuine community including Tanya, Jonathan, Christina, Sheree, Sarah, Ray and Eunice.
Photo: Brendan Kerin performed the Smoking Ceremony