news
December 2023
Habitat for Humanity South Australia in the News!
7NEWS South Australia recently featured an Exclusive report on Habitat for Humanity South Australia's home ownership support scheme.
https://www.facebook.com/7NEWSAdelaide/videos/661726432611852
And the November 15 issue of Murray Pioneer has a heart-warming story here about Habitat for Humanity South Australia’s disaster recovery team helping Murry River flood victims.
October 2023
Habitat opens applications to assist a disadvantaged family into affordable home ownership
A disadvantaged South Australian family will have the opportunity to gain access to a new house with the opening today of applications for Habitat for Humanity South Australia’s home ownership support scheme.
Habitat SA’s Executive Officer, Louise Hay, said the not-for-profit organisation, which is committed to building safe, decent, and affordable homes in partnership with families on low incomes, is inviting applications from families seeking a transformative opportunity to achieve homeownership.
“Our home ownership scheme aims to build strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter, making home ownership accessible to disadvantaged families,” Ms Hay said today.
“Earlier this year, we proudly assisted the Lovett family into their forever home in Two Wells. With the incredible support of HPG Homes and the Habitat for Humanity community, the Lovett family now enjoys a beautiful, purpose-built accessible home that meets their unique needs,” she said.
“We are now looking to offer this same opportunity to another family in need and are encouraging people to send in an application by the deadline of 3rd November 2023.”
Habitat for Humanity’s selection guidelines include:
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Homeowners are expected to contribute a minimum of 200 hours of "sweat equity" during the construction of their home.
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Habitat houses are sold to owner-occupiers only.
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Applicants must be on a low income and not currently own a house.
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Priority is given to those experiencing exceptional circumstances such as disability, serious health issues, or domestic violence.
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Applicants must obtain a home loan for the purchase price of the home, with guidance available on exploring financing options.
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Habitat for Humanity SA maintains a non-discriminatory policy in the selection process, considering neither race nor religion when choosing families.
Ms Hay said Habitat for Humanity South Australia is accepting applications from disadvantaged families who are in need of a hand up into homeownership, adding “its important to note that this is not a giveaway program; it's a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make homeownership a reality.”
The contract price for a Habitat home is substantially reduced with the build cost of the home being no more than 75% of market value. Habitat home owners may be required to utilise the shared equity home loan from HomeStart to finance their house and land purchase.
Here's how you can apply:
Go to Habitat for Humanity South Australia’s website https://www.habitatsa.org.au/building-shelter to download the Application Form, which will help assess a family’s eligibility.
Habitat for Humanity South Australia is dedicated to making homeownership dreams come true for families in need. We encourage all eligible families to seize this opportunity and take the first step towards a brighter future.
For media information, please contact:
Louise Hay, Executive Officer - 0412 218 721
Spring 2023
Master Builders South Australia Magazine Feature Article
Master Builders SA members HPG Homes/Hot Property Group and Habitat for Humanity South Australia recently handed over the keys for a beautiful purpose-built home in Two Wells to the Lovett family.
Robert and Kiera, along with their children Connor (9), Declan (7) and Evie-Lee (3), relocated from Port Lincoln to Adelaide to be closer to medical treatment for their two sons. Connor was diagnosed with the incurable condition leucodystrophy. Further testing also revealed that their other son Declan also had the condition.
As an added blow, Robert has also been diagnosed with lymphatic cancer and resigned from work in 2021 to help care for Connor and Declan.
Finding a suitable home that would meet their family's needs and improve the quality of life for their two terminally ill sons seemed out of reach until Habitat for Humanity contacted the family to coordinate a loan with HPG Homes managing the project.
Materials and labour from building suppliers and contractors was provided at a discount rate or donated.
The home has been built with their sons' health needs in mind. This included wider dorrways, and large sized bedrooms and bathroom to accommodate Connor and Declan's equipment.
Master Builders SA is extremely proud of all involved in this special project to help this deserving family.
It is a true display of what can be achieved through industry and community collaboration.
The above text and images are taken from the Master Builders SA Spring Magazine feature article.
11 May 2023
A Mother’s Day Gift of Safe and Secure Housing
Providing shelter for their family is every parent’s dream. Next week, one Adelaide family will achieve that goal, and celebrate Mother’s Day, when Habitat for Humanity South Australia hands over the keys to the Lovett family’s new home in Two Wells.
But behind the joy of securing their own home is a story of resilience and heartache for the Lovett family.
The joy is the opportunity to be a beneficiary of Habitat for Humanity’s home building program which provides access for disadvantaged families to secure and affordable housing through the generosity and innovation of partners in the building and finance sectors, in this case HPG Builders and HomeStart Finance, respectively.
The Lovett family has experienced more tough times than most. The parents, Kiera and Robert, have three children, two of whom have a rare medical condition, leukodystrophy, the prognosis for which is that the two boys will not see adulthood. Compounding this heartache has been Robert’s cancer diagnosis.
On any measure, the Lovetts qualified for Habitat for Humanity South Australia’s support to secure safe and affordable housing.
Habitat’s Executive Officer, Louise Hay, put it simply: “The medical challenges the Lovett family face are so grave that, ultimately, depending on Robert’s future, it’s possible that Kiera will become a single Mum with a daughter to care for.”
“With the official handover of the house to the Lovetts almost coinciding with the 14 May, we like to think this new house is one of the most precious Mother’s Day gifts any Mother could receive,” she said.
Kiera said “moving into our new home is a gift to us and the kids, it will be such a huge weight lifted off our shoulders, we can go about prioritising our children’s future.”Ms Hay said Habitat for Humanity South Australia “is extremely grateful for the incredibly generous support for this project that has been provided by HPG Homes – which did not charge any fees related to the house construction – and financiers, Homestart – which reduced the family’s financing costs through a shared equity arrangement."
Habitat for Humanity South Australia supports disadvantaged South Australians through its home building program and its ‘Brush with Kindness’ program that provides minor home renovation and gardening services. Habitat also helps reduce building and renovation costs through selling donated building supplies and furniture at heavily discounted prices in its ReStore shop at 102 Port Road, Alberton.
Note: Media representatives are invited to attend the dedication and handover of the Lovett’s home on Tuesday 16 May, 2023.
The Member for Light, Tony Piccolo MP, representing the Minister for Human Services, Nat Cook MP, and the Deputy Mayor of the Adelaide Plains Council, Marcus Strudwicke, are attending the event.
Further information and interviews:
Ms Louise Hay, Executive Officer, Habitat for Humanity SA
Mob: 0412 218 721
30 January 2023
Habitat for Humanity launches Murray Bridge building project
Four young people in Murray Bridge will have an opportunity to transition to a new life with secure accommodation under a project announced by Habitat for Humanity South Australia today.
Habitat for Humanity, a not-for-profit organisation which supports the construction of housing for homeless and disadvantaged people, will transform a duplex in Murray Bridge into four studio apartments.
The project will involve renovating the existing two-unit duplex, and adding new bathrooms, kitchens, toilets, and fencing to the property in Jarvis Street, at a capital cost of around $163,000.
Habitat’s Executive Officer, Louise Hay, said the initiative “will help youth who have been under guardianship to transition into a stable, safe, and affordable home that they can call their own”.
“Statistics show this group are highly disadvantaged and are over-represented in a variety of areas including homelessness services, health system and the justice system,” Ms Hay said. “These studio apartments will provide housing for young people and give them the opportunity to develop the life skills needed to maintain a successful tenancy in the future,” she said.
Work on the new housing project, the second such project undertaken by Habitat for Humanity South Australia in Murray Bridge, is expected to start in February and be completed by October this year. On completion of the construction work, ongoing support for the residents to increase their skills and confidence will be provided by Baptist Care.
Baptist Care’s role will include supporting young people to develop the skills they need to successfully transition to adult life, such as self-care, home management, budgeting and financial literacy, and confidence for independent living.
Baptist Care’s support will also involve the provision of culturally responsive and culturally safe approaches; supporting positive family and community connections, and fostering connections to post care services and other supports.
Other project partners include the SA Housing Trust, Department of Child Protection, Rural City of Murray Bridge, Cornerstone Housing and ac.care.
18 November 2022
ReStore reduces landfill and housing costs
The twin goals of creating a market for high quality building materials and furniture that would otherwise have gone to landfill, and reducing costs for home builders and renovators, have been met by Habitat for Humanity South Australia’s new social enterprise, ReStore.
Celebrating its six-month anniversary today (Friday), ReStore Manager, Sarah Taylor, estimates that the business, best described as “an op shop for building materials and furniture”, has diverted more than 100 truckloads of useable goods and materials away from landfill.
The new and ‘gently used’ products, which are surplus to requirements for builders, tradies, retailers and the general public, are donated and then sold at around half the retail price by ReStore, which is located at 102 Port Road, Alberton.
Ms Taylor said ReStore had been well supported by the business community and the public since its official launch on 4 May this year.
“Major retailers, for example, may have had a ‘spring clean’ of their existing stock and ReStore has provided a socially responsible option to sell these goods rather than take the easy disposal option and send them to landfill,” Ms Taylor said.
“We have picked up 103 truckloads of goods including office and home furniture, building materials, plumbing supplies and tiles. As well, various builders and suppliers have delivered a total of 46 pallets of goods and materials; 162 sheets of gyprock and 124 filing cabinets to our store,” she said.
Habitat for Humanity South Australia Executive Officer, Louise Hay, said ReStore’s success underscored Habitat for Humanity’s mission “to bring communities together to help families build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter”. “At a time when inflation is pushing prices higher and higher, we are selling products at around half their retail cost which is a real bonus, particularly for low-income people, as they build or renovate their accommodation,” Ms Hay said. “As an example, through winter, we were able to support many people to access low-cost insulation, which helps them keep their homes warm, and reduces their energy costs.” The large volume of donations has created a ‘good problem’ for ReStore in needing space in which to sort and store goods before they are placed on display.
“We would love to speak to anyone – a company, local council or a member of the public – who has some unused space in which we could store our goods as they transit to ReStore,” Ms Hay said. “So, this is a shout out to anyone who could help with storage space to help a social enterprise that is helping the public,” she said. Ms Hay said “ReStore’s success is founded on the generosity of our major sponsor, the Ian Potter Foundation, our building industry donors, and an enthusiastic team of volunteers working with ReStore’s two staff”.
3 May 2022
ReStore reduces housing costs
A novel way to reduce the costs of housing construction will be launched in Adelaide tomorrow with the opening of ReStore, a retail outlet offering lower prices for building materials and furniture.
An initiative of not-for-profit group, Habitat for Humanity South Australia, ReStore will sell new, or ‘gently used’, items that have been donated by building companies, businesses and individuals. The goods, including paving and landscaping materials, tiles and flooring items, bathroom fittings, lighting and door hardware will generally be offered at around half the retail price.
Habitat for Humanity South Australia Executive Officer, Louise Hay, said the new premises at 102 Port Road, Alberton, would meet a key need for people building, or setting up, a house while also being beneficial for the environment. “ReStore will sell building materials that may be left over after a major construction job,” Ms Hay said.
“These surplus materials, which are brand new, often end up in landfill because builders don’t have the time to find another home for them. “People will be able to donate these goods to ReStore and, because they have been donated, we will be able to sell them at less than the retail prices. “We are also receiving a lot of furniture which may be second hand but is of very good quality - we call it ‘gently used.’ “I think our store manager, Sarah Taylor, summed it up best when she said recently: ‘If I wouldn’t have an item in my own home, then we won’t be offering it for sale in ReStore.”
“Sarah is keen to hear from any businesses or individuals that may have products to donate and can be contracted on 0412 794 460 or staylor@habitat.org.au
“ReStore is a social enterprise and the funds generated will support Habitat for Humanity South Australia’s philanthropic projects in South Australia.” ReStore is the latest initiative of Habitat for Humanity South Australia. Habitat for Humanity is an international organisation which supports home building in many undeveloped countries around the world. Habitat’s work in South Australia includes a small-scale home building program, a home maintenance program called ‘Brush with Kindness’, and disaster recovery work. Habitat volunteers worked for 18 months cleaning up properties in the Adelaide Hills after the 2019-20 bushfires.
13 August 2020
Milestone reached in bushfire recovery efforts
Habitat for Humanity South Australia’s bushfire recovery program reached a major milestone on Friday having now supported 100 families affected by the 2019 Cudlee Creek bushfire that devastated communities in the Adelaide Hills.
However, the clean-up effort remains substantial and Habitat for Humanity volunteers, who have been active in the Hills since mid-February, are likely to be working on the fire ground for the rest of the year.
To date, more than 150 volunteers have made a substantial contribution to the recovery effort. Regular tasks include removing damaged fencing, dragging burnt trees into ‘burn piles’, and planting trees and shrubs to replace lost vegetation.
Habitat for Humanity South Australia Executive Director, Ben Sarre, says while the group has helped 100 families so far there are many more property owners who need support.
State Government statistics record that 98 homes were destroyed and a further 56 were damaged in the Cudlee Creek bushfire. More than 500 non-residential buildings were destroyed or damaged as the blaze consumed more than 23,00 hectares of land including farming, wine, tourism, and forestry activities.
“The Hills may look green again after pastures have grown and some trees have re-shooted but the loss of homes and infrastructure damage, and in many cases the emotional toll for landowners, remains,” Mr Sarre said.
“We encourage landowners to get in touch with Habitat for Humanity if they want help to get back on their feet,” he said.
“Landowners have been very appreciative of the work by our volunteers. They are often surprised at how much can be achieved by a team in a day, and frequently comment that they can now see a way forward where previously the clean-up challenge had seemed almost insurmountable.”
“While we do have a dedicated and hardworking core group of volunteers, we are also keen to recruit new volunteers who don’t mind getting their hands dirty to help a fire-affected family.”
Habitat for Humanity has been helping Hills’ families continuously since mid-February, adjusting its operating model due to COVID-19 by implementing smaller teams of volunteers, social distancing and appropriate hygiene controls. Habitat for Humanity works closely with the Lobethal Recovery Centre and other not-for-profit organisations to leverage the respective skills and the contribution of each organisation.