Aboriginal Housing Office provides additional grant funding

Head Start Homes is pleased to announce that the Aboriginal Housing Office NSW has provided another grant in support of Aboriginal home ownership in NSW

Funds from this second grant will go towards a Head Start Guarantee for a new Aboriginal family living in community housing in NSW.

Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO) Chief Executive Officer, Jody Broun, said home ownership for Aboriginal people is one of their strategic priorities and is highly supported by the board.  

She believes the security and stability of your own home is as crucial as the connection to Country. 

Jody Broun, Chief Executive Officer, Aboriginal Housing Office, NSW

“When we did our ‘listen and yarn’ consultations in building our ‘Strong Families Strong Communities’ strategy, one of the things we learned was that 91% of people we consulted aspired to home ownership,” Jody explained.   

“We have done a lot of work on how we can make it a reality for some people yet we know so many are in social housing; and many struggle with the banks - they may have credit history issues for example, and are actually really fearful of the whole process and don’t even know the first step to take.”  

The AHO has a target of 100 home ownerships realised by the end of 2022 and has an internal grants process in place to help people through the whole journey, including a choice of loan provider.  

“The more irons we have in the fire, the better, in terms of reaching this target,” Jody said.  

“The HSH model is so simple that I wonder why someone didn’t think of it before. I love the wraparound support they give the applicants - learning how to budget, learning what it all means and their responsibilities as a homeowner.”

“I was 19 when I bought my first home - I’ve helped my own four kids into home ownership - and though they are well educated, I’ve still had to help them all the way through - explain to them what conveyancing is, for example.”  

Jody said for many Aboriginal people achieving home ownership, they might be the first person in their entire family’s history to have bought a property.  

“It makes such a difference to people’s security, self-esteem, self empowerment, and to their decision making.”

“Not having people coming round to inspect your property every six months, not being at the whim of a landlord makes an incredible difference. Home ownership delivers so many benefits to the individual but also to the extended family.”   

Jody said she was completely taken with the HSH model.  

“They are doing it the right way - giving people choice, helping them through the process, holding their hand and stepping them through the whole thing which fits well with the AHO strategy as well as our philosophy about choice and empowering people.”    

Head Start Homes Managing Director Stephen Woodlands said the collaborative relationship between HSH and the AHO is a vital one and thanked Jody for the ongoing support.  

“We are incredibly grateful to Jody and the entire AHO team for the additional grant funding which will help another Aboriginal family, living in Community Housing open their own door to a brighter futures” he said.  

You can learn more about Jody’s amazing story by clicking below: