Meet Eyasu and Martha, our First South Australian Clients
Introducing our first Adelaide couple Eyasu and Martha who have been making remarkable progress on their Head Start Savings Plans and are deeply committed to buying their own home.
Eyasu migrated from Ethiopia in 2010, moved into a one-bedroom unit in government housing and worked for three years before his wife Martha and their three children were able to come to Australia, with Eyasu acting as their sponsor.
The couple, together with their three children - aged 15, 7 and 5 - have been living in Adelaide Benevolent Society housing in Salisbury Downs since 2013.
They became Australian citizens in 2019 and were referred to HSH by their tenancy manager, who considers them exemplary tenants.
“It will feel good to stop paying rent and get into my own home. My heart will feel satisfied when my kids have a place they can call a family home,” Eyasu said.
Martha is well known for her compassion and for volunteering her time to assist others.
She works as a disability support worker, while Eyasu works as a cleaner.
“It will mean so much to me to have my own home and for Eyasu - who has had so many challenges in Australia and has struggled to cope - he will be so grateful,” Martha said.
Eyasu and Martha are also very active in their neighbourhood and in the wider community.
Along with saving diligently and showing complete commitment to their dream of owning their own home, the pair have both been studying to upskill and improve their employment prospects.
Head Start Homes’ Founder, Stephen Woodlands, said he was thrilled with the progress Eyasu and Martha are making in Adelaide, especially given he grew up there in community housing.
Stephen Woodlands, Founder and Managing Director
“When Eyasu and Martha achieve their home ownership dreams, a new Adelaide Benevolent Society home will become available for another family in the Northern Suburbs of Adelaide where I grew up,” he said.
“The two barriers to home ownership are the deposit and the know-how. For Eyasu and Martha, with English as their second language, knowledge is even more of a barrier, so for them, the know-how is crucial.”
“This is why we will also provide a property coach who assists them in finding the right property for them, at the right price, as part of our process,” he explained.
“The power that comes with people realising their home ownership dreams is just extraordinary and so rewarding.”
Stay tuned as we keep you posted on Eyasu and Martha’s journey over the coming weeks and pay tribute to our newly appointed Property Coach Jess Ellam of Jess Ellam Property and the many wonderful South Australian organisations that have helped make this possible, including BankSA, the Wyatt Trust and Adelaide Benevolent Society.