The Company received multiple outstanding award wins including a hotly contested national award with PowerHousing Australia, recognising their efforts in providing housing and support for those in need during difficult COVID-19 impacted times.
Pacific Link Housing won the Housing Industry Association (HIA) Hunter Housing Award for Affordable Housing Project of the Year for a mixed tenancy development at Glendale.
Then in December 2020, they finished the year by winning the prestigious Urban Design Institute of Australia (UDIA) NSW Affordable Housing Development of the Year Award in partnership with Evolve Housing for a project 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.
“Over the past 12 months, Pacific Link Housing has built 51 affordable homes, 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.”
Significant efforts
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 2020, they also relocated 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.
