A housing provider has this week celebrated a major milestone as they continue to provide safe housing for 10,000 people.
Link Wentworth staff and residents gathered at Penrith Bowling Club this week to acknowledge 40 years of providing safe and secure housing for those in need.
The not-for-profit manages 6,400 homes across Sydney and has 700 of those in Penrith, while also providing support services for people to sustain their tenancies and grow in their personal lives.
As NSW faces a housing crisis, Link Wentworth CEO Andrew McAnulty said they will continue to work to provide accessible housing for those in need.
“40 is big, and we haven’t always had 10,000 people living in our homes,” McAnulty said.
“We started from very humble beginnings with a volunteer board and volunteer staff but there is a housing crisis in NSW, and we are doing our best and trying to play our part and it’s important that we raise awareness.
“So, as well as having around a 100 of our residents [at the celebration] we’ve also got people from Council, people from State Government and some of our partners and we want to say, ‘[It’s] fantastic what we’ve all been involved in the last 40 years, but we can do more, and we want to do more’. We are really looking forward to the next 40 years.”
One resident of Link Wentworth, Mary Conyard, said the extra support the organisation has given helped her to grow in confidence.
“They’ve spoilt me rotten… I got a letter inviting me to join the TAG group (Tenants Advisory Group) and do a course,” Conyard said.
“So, I decided why not? I’ve got the time… I thought I needed something a little bit different, so I thought ‘Why not?’ I live in housing, and I may as well know what is going on.
“From there, it has just opened up doors, it’s challenged me, it’s put me out of my box… it’s given me opportunities to get me out of my comfort zone. It’s nice, where even though I was always busy and doing stuff, this has made things different, without it encroaching on my personal ethics and it’s given me a voice as well.”
Another resident, Christy Villarroel, shared that Link Wentworth helped her family out of a tough time.
“I was leaving a domestic violence relationship, and I ended up in emergency accommodation,” Villarroel said.
“So, we got offered a place in Ryde, a little one-bedroom property in Ryde and it was a bit too small for me and my two kids, so eventually we got a place in Cranebrook.
“Since then, we have got a lot of great opportunities with Link Wentworth.
“Me and my two kids got scholarships, and I spoke at Parliament house on behalf of Link Wentworth too.
“They’ve helped me a lot. It’s an honour to be here celebrating.”
If you or someone you know needs help, pop into the Link Wentworth office on Station Street in Penrith or visit http://www.linkwentworth.org.au.
Emily Chate
Emily Chate joined The Western Weekender in 2024, and covers local news - primarily courts and politics. A graduate of the University of Wollongong, Emily has contributed to The Daily Telegraph and worked as a freelance journalist.