The Central Coast’s only locally based Tier 1 Community Housing Provider (CHP), Pacific Link Housing, has finished 2020 with some significant award wins and achievements.
The Company received multiple outstanding award wins including a prestigious national award with PowerHousing Australia, recognising their outstanding efforts in providing affordable housing and support for those in need in difficult COVID-19 impacted times.
In addition to this, Pacific Link Housing won the Housing Industry Association (HIA) Hunter Housing Award for Affordable Housing Project of the Year in partnership with Kingston Building Australia for a mixed tenancy development at Glendale, and most recently, won the prestigious Urban Design Institute of Australia (UDIA) NSW Affordable Housing Development of the Year Award in partnership with Evolve Housing for a development at Roselands.
Pacific Link Housing Chairman Wal Edgell said that the award wins have come at an extremely exciting and pivotal time in the organisation’s 35 year history and despite the difficult operating challenges faced during the past year, Pacific Link Housing has celebrated many recent successes.
Ian Lynch (CEO) and Wal Edgell (Chairman) of Pacific Link Housing
“Within the last 12 months Pacific Link Housing has built 51 affordable homes for those people in our community in greatest need, secured significant low cost finance to deliver additional housing stock, moved to new premises and successfully implemented a new housing first program to assist people experiencing homelessness during COVID-19”, Mr Edgell said.
“The development awards reflect the quality of design and construction in the new homes delivered which is a reflection of the experienced and capable team at Pacific Link Housing, from Board level, all the way through the organisation, and are just rewards for the dedication and commitment of the entire team”, Mr Edgell said.
“On top of this, we are delighted to have recently commenced construction on our latest development on the Peninsula which will provide 12 one and two bedroom units to mainly assist women aged over 55 who are struggling to afford housing in the current difficult rental market.”
The PowerHousing Award recognised the significant efforts of Pacific Link Housing and their support partner, Uniting Central Coast, in successfully housing 30 tenants in a newly completed development during the height of COVID-19 lockdowns. Many of the tenants were in crisis accommodation and required additional support to settle into their new home.
Ian Lynch, CEO of Pacific Link Housing said successful partnerships with wider community groups provided opportunities for tenants to secure homes and help build pathways out of homelessness.
“A home is just the first step. It is collaborative partnerships and community assistance that ensures those people most in need are provided with the necessary care and support to rebuild their lives,” Ian Lynch said.
“The support received from the broader community has exceeded anything Pacific Link has experienced in previous years with numerous donations including food hampers from OzHarvest, toiletry kits, handmade quilts, household items being provided by caring community members as well as various whitegoods and appliances being generously donated by Harvey Norman Commercial on the Central Coast”.
In addition to all that was achieved by Pacific Link Housing during this most difficult year, the Company also managed to successfully relocate their operations to new centrally located premises to accommodate their growing team. The new office environment provides a bigger and brighter space for staff to continue providing much needed services and support to the community over the coming years.
“Next year is set to be an even greater challenge, with a significant development pipeline ahead of us, and continually looking to strengthen relationships with all levels of government and the commercial and CHP sectors broadly, but we are delighted with the Award wins and achievements and the ever-growing appreciation and recognition of our role in the wider community,” Mr Lynch said.
