TS14 has enjoyed a very positive week. The wisdom of having an all singing, all dancing database is now really coming into its’ own. The database has over 500 names on it now – and is increasing all the time. One of the lovely things re the database is how easily we can slice and dice names/events/histories to ensure that mail outs are absolutely tailored to specific groups of supporters. Much kudos to Nicole for her work on the database. All on the database have now been contacted re TS14 and the feedback from emails that were sent earlier this week has been terrific. Many people are committing to sign up and a handful of people have contacted me to say they will bring family, friends and colleagues on board to swell the team numbers. Amanda and I are meeting with senior school staff from MLC next week to talk re the possibility of their students and staff joining TS14. 3 months and a week out from the event and I am as happy as I could be right now with the progress being made.

Be warned! Connie is still to talk with committee and members of the association in regards to getting involved!!

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/older-women-fall-victim-to-crisis-in-homelessness-20140407-36957.html

This is from today’s Age and confirms what I have been hearing all over the place of late. At a recent speaking engagement I was asked when Servants would open a community house specifically for older women – the need is that enormous.

http://gallery.mailchimp.com/fbf08072653881a0a959aee4a/files/New_Directions_for_Social_Housing_A_Framework_for_a_Strong_and_Sustainable_Future.pdf

The link above is to the recently released document from Minister Lovell on Social Housing. A bit of a lengthy read – but might be of some interest to some. There is talk of transferring 12,000 public housing units into the domain of community housing. The early indications are that the Housing Associations will be the groups targeted/expected to take on these properties.

One day in the life of Servants at the present time seems like, well, I’m not quite sure what – but it is full, varied, challenging, creative, thought provoking and, mostly, fun!

Thursdays highlights included a phone conversation with long time DHS connection Maggie Laurie re the General Lease, interviewing and accepting a 44 year Christian guy into Romana, the first delivery (of many) of quality, free mulch to Romana, an amazing afternoon of Narrative interviews and liaising with a choir in relation to a couple of functions.

Servants is vibrant at this time!

Amanda and I had a most fruitful meeting at Carrical this morning with top brass from Urban Seed. Servants and US alike have been looking forward to this meeting since our initial talks at the Surrender Conference a couple of weekends ago. The relationship is off to a terrific start; several ideas have been floated in regards to the possibility of the establishment of something of a pipeline of Housing Managers for Servants being generated from US. Our next step in this evolving relationship will see Amanda and me visiting US to see some of their work. This meeting today made the looooong weekend spent at Surrender completely worthwhile!

Candlelight have offered Servants 4 pairs of complimentary tickets to Squeaky Clean Comedy this Saturday night in the City. If you would like a pair of tickets please let me know by email no later than this Wednesday night and I will arrange tickets for you.

Amanda has just commenced her 5th year of living on-site at Carrical. Amanda informed me last week that she believes that her time at Carrical is drawing to a conclusion – as always has to be the case, eventually, when one runs Carrical. Amanda is currently house hunting and it appears logical to put a new manager/s into Carrical as Amanda moves out. This might happen in a relatively short timeframe. I am already in serious conversation with a couple in regards to their following Amanda into Carrical.

At this stage Amanda fully intends to stay on with Servants in her role of Operations Manager.

Friday arvo I attended and spoke at the inaugural City of Boroondara Social and Community Housing conference. Expecting it to be as toothless and dull as a quarterly SAHAC meeting (extraordinarily toothless and extraordinarily dull) it was, pleasingly, anything but!! There were 4 speakers – including our friend Stephen Nash. There were some intriguing conversations. Boroondara Police wanted the Servants opinion about the future of Ivy Grange – and the future of private rooming houses within the municipality was discussed at length. I made a couple of useful new connections but, perhaps of most significance, was the realization that we are seen as a very significant voice for the homeless/low income folks within Boroondara – this was quite a revelation!