'A bit of a miracle'

Published: 

4 December 2024 11:46AM

'You wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. If you didn’t have your neighbours, it could be very lonely!'

Therese’s modest unit is more than a home – it’s the centre of an 'essential' friendship group and her active community lifestyle.

Therese cared for her parents for more than 12 years. Following their death, she moved into a Deception Bay complex where the rent was subsidised as part of the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS).

Over the next decade, Therese – a former disability support worker – forged strong friendships with fellow pensioners Mark and Joanne, and nurse Patsy.

'We’re all single, we all know each other very well and keep an eye on each other,' Therese says.

'We catch up once a week for a potluck dinner, just taking turns being host, and there always seems to be a birthday or Easter or Christmas or something to celebrate together.

'Our friendship is essential because, even though we’ve all got family, we don’t see them very much. We’re in and out each other’s doors all the time.'

When the federal NRAS was ending, Therese was devastated at the thought of being forced to return to the private rental market. All her friends were worried they might have to move suburbs – if not cities or states – to try to find affordable accommodation.

'Everybody was so distressed and in tears,' Therese says.

'Joanne was saying we have to still stay friends wherever we go, but we knew that once we moved, it would be too hard to catch up. Mark was looking at moving interstate to be near family, Joanne was talking about asking her family to buy her a caravan to live in – and none of us wanted to go anywhere we didn’t know anybody.’

Then, something happened that Therese describes as 'a bit of a miracle': National Affordable Housing bought 6 of the 8 units in the complex with funding from the Queensland Government. Now, Therese and her friends can remain in their subsidised homes for as long as they need.

'It’s amazing and such a relief. We had a big celebration party – we played music and had dinner, drinks and dessert in Mark’s unit, which I filled with dozens of paper flowers I’d made. We’re all really happy,’ she says.

Securing National Rental Affordability Scheme homes

Through our Homes for Queenslanders plan, we're supporting select community housing providers to purchase homes exiting the National Rental Affordability Scheme.

This will help provide certainty to tenants like Therese benefiting from the discounted rental prices.

If you or someone you know needs housing help

Call 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or contact your local Housing Service Centre.

If you are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness, contact the Homeless Hotline for free on 1800 474 753 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

Find out more about housing help and support.