Affordable housing: Transforming lives amidst crisis

Victoria and Saul Sambono would never have been able to start a family if not for their apartment in Toolangi.

Half affordable housing and half social housing, the Kaleen complex was purpose-built for individuals and families on low to moderate incomes and is a partnership between the ACT Government and Marymead CatholicCare (MMCC).

“We lost our private rental after an injury affected my work, and we had trouble making rent,” Victoria said.

“Knowing how close we came to living in the car, this apartment was an absolute beacon. In private rental, even before the prices went up, it was more than half our income.”

The couple, along with their two-year-old daughter Alice, are thriving in the diverse and vibrant community.

“We are in a safe place, we know our neighbours, we have support,” Victoria said.

“We wouldn’t have Alice at all without affordable accommodation. It saved a lot of things. We would be in a vastly different situation without it. Now, we are at a place where we can actually flourish for a change.”

Toolangi is piloting the Social Impact Program, a holistic well-being approach that aims to build inclusive communities and enable social change.

MMCC Social Impact Program Engagement, Tenancy Support & Villas Manager Anna Cirocco said it provided community engagement, connection, and tenancy support for all residents.

“When I first started here, people welcomed me with open arms,” she said.

“They wanted a community garden, chances to gather and connect and to feel like they belonged. Having someone who can offer them support, or a chat on a hard day, and some social activities at very low to no cost means a lot to people.”

Resident Fiona Hodge has lived at Toolangi for two and a half years.

“The cost of living is a major concern as I’m an early childhood educator, and we are among the lowest awards for pay,” she said.

“It means I need to watch my budget and be economical at times. I need to make careful choices and prioritise between essentials and non-essentials. It can be tricky.”

Fiona felt great relief when she was offered the apartment.

“When I first saw it, I wanted it straight away,” she said.

“The units are modern, spacious and have good lighting. I feel grateful that I can have a home that reflects my worthiness and my right to have a good home.”

Fiona said the SIP had provided support, social events and workshops including living on a budget, healthy cooking, gardening, and drumming.

“It is a real bonus to living here,” she said.

“Anna is always trying new ideas and ways to get the community together. I feel heard when speaking with her.”

MMCC CEO Anne Kirwan said the ever-increasing cost of living continued to bring significant financial stress to many individuals and families within the Archdiocese.

“We are witnessing more people struggling to meet basic needs such as housing, food, and healthcare, increasing the demand for services as more community members seek support,” she said.

“We are witnessing significant increases in the number of individuals and families experiencing homelessness, driven by many factors, including the increases in cost of living. Housing affordability is a major issue. With rising rent and property prices, many individuals and families find it increasingly difficult to secure stable accommodation. This exacerbates issues of homelessness and housing insecurity.”

Anne said the onsite presence at Toolangi supported residents within a thriving community and assisted them in accessing additional supports and services that may be difficult to find due to complex systems.

“We are also really excited about the opportunity that our new and upcoming affordable housing build-to-rent initiative in partnership with the ACT Government and our North Woden Parish will bring to vulnerable Canberrans in the near future,” she said.

“More affordable properties for more people has to be a good thing.”