This edition of CRUcial Times focuses on the theme of “What it means to create a home“.
This edition contains the following articles:
EDITORIAL
What it means to create a home
Margaret Rodgers
FROM THE BOARD
Home for me is a sanctuary
Josey McMahon
What makes home ‘home’?
Mike Duggan was a well-known and respected member of Queensland’s disability community and was a member of CRU’s committee for 23 years, 16 of those as president. Mike passed away in his own home in 2018, surrounded by trusted workers and his impressively large personal library. Mike’s home was close to his church, his friends and the vibrant West End community – all things that meant a lot to him.
We include here his ‘From the President’ article from CRUcial Times 40 (2008) which was on the topic of home.
That’s ordinary in my home
The Independent Youth Housing Group (IYHG) is a rental housing collective that provides affordable rentals to, and is run by, its members who are currently all people with disabilities. Established in 1989 around Nundah, a suburb in Brisbane’s north it has expanded to twelve homes – four of which it has purchased itself. The co-operative is supported by the Community Living Association (CLA) but runs with its own board, policies and governance.
In this article three IYHG members, Craig, Jenifur and Paul share their experiences of being members of the co-operative and how these tenancies differ from their experiences in the mainstream rental market. They have all held governance roles in the co-operative and reflect on the benefits to having long-term, stable and quality housing and how this sets them up for ‘life’.
Because it’s better (excerpts)
Anita O’Brien is the Melbourne-based mother of two adult sons. Anita and her husband are committed advocates for her son Warren and Anita has served on the boards of numerous organisations. She has been a strong advocate, supporter, presenter and writer for many years. This article is a collection of excerpts from her 2016 book ‘Because it’s better… to live my life within community’. These excerpts chronicle the changes in thinking that led her to move Warren from a group situation with other people with disability in to a home of his own.
Anita also shares the ideas, frameworks and strategies that helped Warren embrace a life embedded in community with a job, friends and opportunities to craft a life of his own.
The importance of home
Nigel Webb is a disability activist with over 30 years’ experience in disability organisations in Queensland. He is currently Chair of Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN) and is the Co-Chair of the National Disability and Carers Advisory Council.
In this article Nigel reflects on the stages of his life as he moved from living in an institution in his youth to being an adult living in a home of his own. Nigel describes his home as a place to entertain and a sanctuary, both of which help him to take his place in community.