A local association which offers affordable housing in Strathalbyn is calling for new committee members to safeguard community control and focus of the organisation.
On Saturday morning, St Andrews Cottage Homes Inc (SACH) will host its annual general meeting when a proposal to hand over further management to Unity Housing Company Limited will be considered.
A high demand for low-cost rental housing in the region has seen SACH continuously provide affordable, stable housing for people in need for more than 50 years, and currently has 13 dwellings in its housing stock.
The Russell Street tenants have created a community providing support to one another through shared meals and use of a communal vegetable garden on site.
SACH is a Strathalbyn-based incorporated association established in the 1960s, and a steering committee was formed on August 12, 1969.
In 2018, SACH partnered with Unity Housing to provide for the professional management of the tenancies.
The association has had a stable committee comprised of representatives of the local churches and non-church affiliated community representatives; however, the committee is ageing and in need of regeneration.
“We are struggling to maintain the committee due to attrition,” a spokesperson said.
“Due to the diminishing committee, we are now considering handing over 100 per cent of the management of St Andrews Cottage Homes (13 Strathalbyn social housing units) to Unity Housing Company who are presently managing tenancies but not administration.
“We hope to maintain ownership of the properties but worry sooner or later we may also need to transfer ownership of the assets to an organisation outside of Strathalbyn if we cannot keep the committee alive.”
Interested persons are encouraged to attend Saturday’s AGM at 9.30am at the St Andrew’s Church Hall, Russell Street, Strathalbyn.
For more information call: 0409 105 896.
