Housing with heart

Hume customer Ruby is successfully in year two of the Together Home program.

A career in community housing is challenging but immensely rewarding. Housing professionals often bring a mix of skills, including real estate experience, but also social services casework expertise. The profession is unique and appeals to people who are committed to social justice through supporting low to moderate income earners and those who are vulnerable. 

According to Anne Mathur, the Senior Customer Support Coordinator at Hume Community Housing, “you are supporting people to turn their lives around.”

Hume believes that housing is a human right and stable home is essential for health and well-being and a cornerstone to accessing education and employment. Their purpose is to create opportunities for people to prosper.

With homelessness figures on the rise, promising news came in the form of a recent announcement from Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services, Alister Henksens of a further $21.5million investment into the NSW Government’s Together Home program to support people experiencing long-term homelessness. 

Hume will receive funding to house a further 19 people in this third round of funding, and in the last two received funding for 51 people living in the Sydney and the Hunter regions. 

Anne believes that while the work is challenging, the results are why she loves her job. Hume manages all aspects of the Together Home program and are experts supporting people with complex needs experiencing homelessness.

“We are one of only a small number of community housing providers with in-house expertise in managing complex social challenges including homelessness,” she said.

“We identify where a customer will most benefit from living, perhaps close to family or within an area they know. We then search for and lease a suitable private rental property which we sublet to the customer.”

Hume customers also receive case management support along the way to address personal issues including mental health and well-being support.

“It’s wonderful to see someone thrive from having a safe place to rest their head,” Mathur said.

Hume supports customers to maintain a stable tenancy history for two years so they have a good track record and may eventually lease a property of their own.

Mathur speaks from experience as she was once homeless herself as a child refugee from Myanmar. She understands trauma, and her own life experiences provide her with genuine empathy for Hume’s customers.

Hume was recently named Business NSW’s Outstanding Employer of Choice, 2021 and winner of the Western Sydney Awards for Business Excellence Social Enterprise 2021. Hume is looking for multiple roles in the Together Home program based in Southwestern Sydney and the Hunter, both full time and part time. For details click here.