Carla’s home ownership dream fulfilled

After 16 years of raising her family in a social housing property, Carla – a proud Dunghutti woman, mother to two teenagers and a kin carer to two young children – is thrilled to be able to call this same home her own.

Carla settled on the home – on the mid North Coast of NSW – in February, thanks to the generous support of Head Start Homes, Community Housing Limited, St. George Bank, Land and Housing Corporation, the Aboriginal Housing Office, Elders Real Estate and Ms. Deeds Conveyancing.

Since launching into her savings plan 18 months ago and moving into a full time job in health promotion, Carla has worked incredibly hard to save for the deposit she needed to realise her dream of home ownership. Even rising interest rates did not dissuade her.

“For me it’s such an achievement that I’ve done this and that my children are seeing this now,” Carla smiled.
“There was always a question of whether I would ever be able to own this home. It was a long process, but we got there in the end and that always was my goal. I didn’t want any other home. I wanted the one I was living in, the place where I’m happy.
“It was just so nice to see the kids’ reaction - they were really, really happy that it’s actually ours. And my eldest – my 19-year-old son – who is still living at home, asked me: ‘Is this actually our own home?’ Like he himself couldn’t believe it, because we’ve spoken about it for so long.
“And my daughter is just so excited. Colour schemes are starting to happen and ideas about what we can do with the bathroom and all sorts of things.”

Carla said her children now felt a deeper sense of connection to the house, and more secure.

“I’m more at ease now that my kids and I have a home that we own. Knowing that we don’t have to do inspections, that there won’t be random people rocking up to do stuff, it’s just so nice to know that I’m not going to be hassled, basically,” she explained.

Describing herself as the rock of the family, Carla said her extended family’s reaction to her purchase was wonderful.

“This place was always a family home. It’s a special place, not just for myself and my family but for the rest of my family as well.
“My sister said to me ‘You make us proud’ because I’m the eldest of our family and that I’m leading by example.
“So, I’m really trying to encourage her and her partner to do the same thing and encourage my other siblings to save for a house. I tell them nothing’s impossible and to have that type of attitude.”

Carla expressed her heartfelt thanks to each of the supporters involved in helping her along the way and encouraged anyone living in social housing and wanting to purchase their home to take the first steps.

“Use the support that’s offered along the way, stick to your plan, don’t let anyone or anything stop you from reaching your goal and finally don’t give up! It is worth it in the end.”

Carla said Head Start Homes had given her the ongoing support she needed throughout the process.

“Having you there and linking in with other agencies and really going into bat for me and asking the questions I was too scared to ask gave me the hope that I could buy my dream home. And that’s just been amazing throughout the whole process,” she said.

Proceeds from the sale of Carla’s home have gone towards more housing stock.