This year the Sapphire Coast Tenancy Scheme (SCTS) celebrates 30 years of providing community housing for those in need in Eden, Merimbula and Bega.
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In that time the organisation has grown its portfolio of properties, some it owns and others it manages on behalf of private landlords to become an established and trusted provider frequently looking for homes for some of the more disadvantaged in our local area.
CEO Sue Ogier has been with the organisation for 23 years and said that when it was first registered it had $600 in the bank; today it has cash reserves of over $1 million.
“When I started working at the SCTS 23 years ago the scheme managed five capital properties and 25 leaseholds, a total of 30 properties. Currently we have 107 properties,” Ms Ogier said.
SCTS manages 10 transitional properties, two crisis leaseholds and the Bega Women’s Refuge under the Going Home Staying Home project. There are also three NSW housing bedsits, 39 general leasehold and 39 capital properties. There are also properties managed by SCTS and 10 one-bedroom properties managed on behalf of Bega Valley Shire Council.
About 50 per cent of the property portfolio is managed in Merimbula because of the greater opportunity to pick up two-bedroom units.
However the organisation has been looking at what else it may be able to do to assist those struggling with housing issues. As a consequence about a year ago SCTS seriously considered buying Wandarrah Lodge, the backpacker hostel on Fishpen.
SCTS chairman Bill Taylor said the focus was on the homeless.
“We were trying to pin down the numbers affected and of course that can be difficult. We needed to know that it wouldn’t put the current business at risk,” Mr Taylor said.
It is understood that discussions were in progress with the then Minister for Family and Community Services and Minister for Social Housing, Brad Hazzard who was supportive of the plan but after he moved to the Health Ministry, and Pru Goward took over Family and Community Services and Social Housing, the matter did not go any further.
However another opportunity came up in the meantime and SCTS had the chance to purchase five properties on one site in Merimbula.
“It doesn’t mean we’re not still open to a homeless facility (purchase),” Ms Ogier said.
She explained that one of the most important aspects was in trying to break the cycle of homelessness by providing some stability.
“Part of our job is to look at the needs of the Bega Valley.”