Christmas comes early for Hume customers Mira and Rada

Inseparable sisters, Mira and Rada, moved to Australia as refugees of the Balkan Wars, and soon found themselves widowed and living apart in social housing. 

With their homes in separate multi-story buildings with stairs, both were finding it increasingly difficult to manage as both were experiencing challenges with mobility as they aged. The frequent visits to one another’s homes, around a 2 km walk was also taking a toll. 

Upon learning of a new social housing development in Liverpool being managed by Hume Community Housing, they both applied for transfers in the hope they would be able to live in the same building, which was also close to their extended families and church.

Ageing in place

Hume was able to transfer both sisters from their existing units into the new Moore Street development. Mira and Rada were pleased to secure neighbouring units, so they can see each other whenever they like, and comfortably age in place together. 

“When Hume offered my sister a unit on the same floor as me, I was overjoyed! I can see my sister every day, the building has an elevator, and the neighbours are wonderful, I know them all by name,” said Mira. 

“We are so happy here. We walk together, we eat together, and we do everything together and never feel alone anymore,” Rada said, “even though we argue like most sisters do.”

With Christmas fast approaching, the sisters are even more excited to spend their first Christmas “under the one roof” since moving the Australia.

“We’re excited to spend our first Christmas together like this. We’re going to cook lots of food and feel proud to invite our family over. We look forward to getting involved in community events in the coming year too,” Mira said.

Programs and services to help 

Assisting the sisters to age in place in an environment that supports their needs, while ensuring they can see each other without limitation, was of highest importance to Hume. 

Our programs and services are focused on providing safe and secure housing, then giving customers opportunities to pursue life-enhancing activities including education, training and employment, along with the important social connectedness that comes from being a part of a community.

Sustainable development 

The Liverpool development is a culmination of a partnership with the NSW Government to project-manage the development of 23 units at 188–190 Moore. The complex’s design meets the environmental performance and residential amenity guidelines of the State Environmental Planning Policy 65: Apartment Design Guideline. 

We are passionate about supporting people on very low to moderate incomes to secure affordable housing in an exceptionally pressured market. This development is providing safe and secure housing for those on the NSW social housing waitlist, Housing Pathways. Hume is committed to delivering additional social housing to the Liverpool community, where housing affordability is a serious concern.

The building is designed to maximise solar access and natural ventilation, acoustic and visual privacy is maintained, and the building complies with the requirements of energy efficiency, and water and waste management. Materials and finishes used in the building are locally sourced, with lower embodied energy, selected to minimise ongoing maintenance and replacement.