Independent residents at Presbyterian Aged Care at East Gosford are breathing a sigh of relief with the announcement on September 3 that they will remain in their homes following sale of the facility.
Presbyterian Church of Australia in NSW General Manager, Jeof Falls, said the facility is under contract to be purchased by a local affordable housing investor – meaning all retirement living residents and tenants will be able to stay.
Prior to sale, the aged care component was closed with residents transitioned to nearby service providers.
This also saw the departure of staff, leaving residents in the independent living component facing an unclear future.
“Staff should be congratulated on their efforts to minimise the impact of the transition and to work closely with families to achieve their preferred outcomes,” Falls said.
“The retirement living residents and tenants will remain onsite in their homes with the new buyer.
“The site has been purchased by an investor in affordable housing projects on the Central Coast, BEA Projects Pty Limited, working with Pacific Link Housing and Key2 Realty.
“BEA Projects, working in conjunction with Pacific Link Housing and Key2 Realty, won the tender because they agreed to prioritise the housing of our retirement living residents and tenants.
“I am delighted that our residents and tenants will be able to stay in their homes, and that their new landlord is equally focused on assisting those in need with housing.”
The sale of the property was a decision by the Presbyterian Church of Australia in NSW as part of a refocus of services on mission, and financial viability for the long term.
“Key2 Realty is different to other real estate agencies”
Ian Lynch, CEO Key2 Realty
Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch, who was a strong advocate for residents throughout the process, said this was a significant step for affordable housing in the Gosford area and Central Coast region.
“Finding the right housing solutions is very difficult and takes a community pulling in the same direction,” Tesch said.
“I congratulate the efforts of so many who came together with a common purpose to assist those in need.”
Pacific Link Housing, the only locally based Tier 1 community housing provider, through its social enterprise real estate agency Key2 Realty will take on the management of the property in about six weeks’ time.
“Pacific Link Housing has forged a strong alliance with BEA Projects over recent times, and we are committed to addressing affordable housing shortages and the ‘invisible homeless’ issues in our community,” CEO Ian Lynch said.
“Key2 Realty will (also) play an important role, acting on behalf of the new owners in relation to the property and tenancy management.
“Whilst it provides the same expert services on behalf of investment property owners large or small, for the same or often lower fees, it is a social enterprise; meaning its profits are distributed to programs that help those less fortunate across the local community.
“Whilst it is difficult to engage with the residents at the present time due to COVID restrictions, we have already introduced Pacific Link Housing and Key2 Realty via letter, and I have personally phoned a couple of the residents who are over the moon with the outcome, given what they were potentially facing.”
Source:
Media release, Sep 3
Presbyterian Church of Australia in NSW
Media release, Sep 7
Pacific Link Housing