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| Haven House on Riflebird Drive |
Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.
The Family Haven Inc. of Caboolture has been recognised with a prestigious award on the Sunshine Coast for their ongoing support of people in need.
The Family Haven Inc. of Caboolture has been recognised with a prestigious award on the Sunshine Coast for their ongoing support of people in need.
The Family Haven Inc. is a Caboolture based not for profit business with the sole goal of providing, safe, holistic support, assistance and/or transitional housing to people while they re-establish themselves within the community. Over the last two years it has gone from strength to strength, with strong leadership and immense support from the immediate community.
Each year, the organisation receives funding of approximately $15,000.00 from the Department of Communities. These funds are intended to provide assistance with the majority of the financial needs of The Family Haven, mainly for the housing of up to 26 families. In reality, during 2010, 209 families and 79 singles were housed; the additional funding for this gap has been provided by fundraising and the generosity of the community. An example of such generosity came from a local business man, who provided a, no-strings-attached, long term loan of $170,000.00 toward the purchase of a supported accommodation facility in Upper Caboolture, Haven House. The remainder of the funds were appropriated through special arrangements with the Morayfield branch of Westpac bank.
Located in a former bed and breakfast facility, Haven
House is a five bedroom house, with two self-contained flats attached to the main premises. Situated on two acres, the property features a number of quite areas and is run by a head tenant who provides support, meal planning, overseeing shopping and general site management. Tenants generally pay $170 rent each week, this includes food and electricity also. Remaining funds, from the rents, pay the interest only on the Westpac loan.
Speaking with Westpac Local Business Banker, Attila Monostori, he expressed his sincere belief in the unique business ethos found at The Family Haven "The Community Innovation award was created especially to recognise the rare dedication that The Family Haven deliver selflessly to the community" he goes on to state that the creation of Haven House 'was seen at the time as an innovative approach as these type of organisations rarely buy investment properties on their own, but it turned out to be a successful model generating great interest from other non-profit organisations".
Without the services of The Family Haven, a huge number of people risk the chance of falling down the cracks of society and out of the light; perpetuating a vicious cycle of abuse, crime and sheer helplessness.
Gail Torrens, manager of The Family Inc, expresses her sheer gratitude for the generosity of the community. However, she'd like to reiterate the importance of physical donations. "As our families find strength and the ability to stand on their feet, they move out into their own places with our blessings. Taking with them the furniture and soft goods (linen, crockery, cutlery) that they've grown accustomed to to further support them." In addition to this, Family Haven Inc. often have to provide furniture and soft goods in emergency housing situations with funding for this coming out of the business coffers. Ms Torrens would appreciate a variety of donations that are clean and in good condition. Items that would be appreciate include:
- an array of hard furnishings like tables, beds and lounge
- electrical items
- linen such as bed sheets, towels and clothing
- kitchen items like cups, plates, bowls, fry pans, utensils, etc
- food items
- and seemingly trivial items like coat hangers, sanitary items, and much much more
The Family Haven provide support to families and single people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. People who access the services are in crisis and come from a diverse background; namely domestic violence, family conflicts, drug and alcohol related issues, mental healthy, physical and/or intellectual disabilities and non Eglish speaking backgrounds.
If you, or anyone you know, require such services do not hesitate to contact The Family Haven Inc.
PH: 5495 5758 (for donations as well)AH: 0400 00 9401
Office location: George Street Caboolture, between King and Hasking Street (near the white parking tower).
Postal: PO Box 757 Caboolture QLD 4510
