Community Centre recognised for housing initiative
Nambour Community Centre Manager Ana Greenfield, centre, and President Nikita King, right, accepted the award from Neighbourhood Centres Queensland CEO Em James.
Nambour Community Centre (NCC) has been recognised with a statewide award for its efforts in easing the state’s housing crisis.
NCC won the Neighbourhood Centre Award at the Queensland Council of Social Service’s Queensland Community Impact Awards.
The Housing with Dignity project was aimed at older women experiencing homelessness. It brings together local businesses and government and highlights how local, grassroots solutions can be implemented to alleviate homelessness.
Faced with the death of women who had experienced homelessness in the area, a powerful grassroots advocacy group called the Dignity Circle, which includes women with lived experience of homelessness and housing insecurity, formed at NCC.
Together with Coast2Bay Housing, Sunshine Coast Council, a generous and reputable local landowner and with the support of Nambour Rotary and St Lukes Lutheran Church, the Dignity Circle created the Housing with Dignity Project, which is now providing housing for older women; the fastest growing demographic of Australians experiencing homelessness.
The Awards were handed out last Thursday night by QCOSS Patron, The Governor of Queensland Dr Jeannette Young, at a ceremony at Brisbane City Hall.