Hulya's happy new home

Hulya, 59, was one of 13 clients we securely housed in a brand new housing project in Pascoe Vale.

Hulya approached HAAG in March 2023. She was homeless, couch surfing with her adult children, but was so desperate to get her own place, where she could host her children and seven  grandchildren, eat her traditional Turkish meals that she loves to cook, get involved with her grandchildren’s lives by attending school events, sporting games and participating in daily activities, plus also assist her working adult children with school drop off and pick up.

Hulya’s application was approved for highest priority, but she had to wait a very long time to get a property offer in the Broadmeadows district, where Hulya wanted to live because all her family and social network are to be found in the Broadmeadows district. Hulya’s housing situation deteriorated to the point where she had to agree to accept a property offer in any suburb and in any property type. So, we managed to get her some community housing in Mernda, an apartment with no lift. Hulya is on a disability pension due to having serious back problems which causes some mobility issues. Nevertheless, she accepted the property offer, which was so far away from her family, plus she had to navigate stairs to reach her level, as she didn’t want to be burden to her children. Hulya said:

“I had several falls trying to navigate the stairs, to reach the second floor, with no lift, it was very difficult. Most days, I just avoided going out so I would not have to risk falling. I isolated myself for days by staying at home. But I would even put up with those stairs, if ONLY the property was close to my children and my grandchildren. Proximity did not allow me to have more frequent interactions with my grandchildren. Mernda was too far; I could not see them as often as I wanted to; I could not share memories as often as I wanted too. I could not provide my children with practical help such as assist with childcare, errands or during emergencies. The bond I have with my grandchildren is a source of deep emotional connection and satisfaction for me. They make me feel needed and valued, they bring smiles and laughter to me, they bring happiness to my life.”

With the opening of Housing Choices’ Pascoe Vale project, Hulya was able to secure a transfer to an apartment that was much more accessible and close to her family in Broadmeadows. On the day of her sign-up, Premier Jacinta Allen attended to mark the opening of the new project. Hulya was pleased to convey to the Premier and the media in attendance how grateful she was 

“I would like to thank you and the government for providing me appropriate and affordable housing to low-income people such as myself, but I also thank you for funding non-for-profit organisations such as HAAG, without their support and advocacy, this would have not happened.  So, can I please ask the government to continue funding HAAG so they can continue to assist people who are homeless.”

We were also able assist Hulya with a voucher from Streetsmart, helping her get set up in her new home.