By CASEY NEILL
A HOUSE for vulnerable women is looking more like a home thanks to the Rotary Club of Dandenong.
YWCA subsidiary company Social Housing Victoria manages the Dandenong property, which 12 women call home.
Community housing officer Zoy Yerondais said the residents might have a physical disability, be escaping family violence, have a psychiatric illness, or be priced out of the rental market.
“We house women who are vulnerable and in need,” she said.
“The women who reside in our housing need to be earning under a certain number of money.
“They often come through different services. They might be from mental health services, or often through a case manager.”
Ms Yerondais said the Dandenong home was “really lovely” but residents wrote a wish list to make their courtyard more inviting – outdoor garden furniture, an umbrella, a raised vegetable garden bed, a potted lemon tree and a barbecue.
“They just wanted things that most people have the luxury of being able to afford themselves,” Ms Yerondais said.
The raised vegie patch will particularly aid one resident with multiple sclerosis (MS).
“She loves gardening but she can’t bend down,” Ms Yerondais said.
“People are so grateful there. That people have thought enough of them to help them out and to go to all the trouble.
“We’re a not for profit organisation so everything’s pretty tight.
“For Rotary to come to the part on this is a real boost for us, too.
“Getting Rotary and the donors in to help out has also created a community. That’s helped create more cohesiveness.”
Rotary Club of Dandenong president Ian Maxwell said the club thought it was a worthwhile cause.
“The Rotary Club of Dandenong wants to help the community where we can,” he said.
“We got Bunnings on board, which helped us out.
“My company, Le Pine Funerals, supplied a barbecue and the gas bottle.
“The men’s shed built the table and chairs. We supplied the timber.
“The ladies there are very appreciative of it.”
Call Mr Maxwell on 0409 049 110 to get involved with Rotary.
