Tenant group helps their community

The Central Queensland regional tenant group recently completed a landscaping project at a local shelter for homeless young people.

Acting President of the group, Grayham Smyth, explained how the group wanted to work on a community project.

"Tenant group meetings are how we get information, and how we make decisions, but many members wanted more hands-on activities in our group," he said.

"So we started looking for a project to benefit the community, while using the skills many of the tenants have."

Landscaping the grounds of a shelter for homeless young people was suggested.

The tenant group believed that creating a better garden would demonstrate to young people that the community cared about them.

Tenant group member, Mark Mizzi, said the group coordinated donations and volunteers to complete the landscaping.

"We rang businesses, telling them what we wanted to do and received donations worth thousands of dollars in plants, soil, mulch and machinery hire," Mark said.

Eleven tenant volunteers worked hard to clear the ground, prepare the soil, create borders and choose plants.

"Social housing tenants get involved in decisions about their housing and have the opportunity to learn and use new skills. But the most significant experience tenant participation offers is building better communities," Grayham said.

The Central Queensland Regional Tenant Group has been actively involved in the department's Tenant Participation program since 1994.

If you would like information about joining your local tenant participation group, please contact your nearest Housing Services office.