Launch of GoFundMe to support the development of 'Welcome Home' Villages
Are you concerned with the level of homelessness across Australia and how long it is taking for governments and housing providers to meet the increasing demand?
'Welcome Home Villages' are medium scale resident led communities in regional towns that with your support can bring HomeFullNess to residents
https://www.gofundme.com/f/welcome-home-be-part-of-the-solution
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For over two decades I've researched, lived in and explored cohousing communities and ecovillages in Australia and Europe. My intention was to learn all I could and share what works, and what doesn't work in villages that are resident led so that more villages could be built.
I have come to three important realisations:
1. Governments, housing providers and the planning industry are used to developer led process (build for residents for a return on investment with little community involvement in design).
2. Residents who wish to design and build their future homes and community (resident led for quality of life, affordability and ecological sustainability with a distrust of government, planners and architects) often do not have the skills to do so, have the time to drive the development and rarely have the funds to appoint a project manager.
3. There is an increasing array of private investors and several government housing grants that are interested and driven to invest in projects yet need viable proposals to enable them to make their support decision.
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Over several years I have been asked countless times to write proposals and lead projects for free or get paid via sweat equity return (a share when the project is complete). At times I've even heard "I'll buy you a coffee and can I pick your brains about community steps so we can do it ourselves!"
While I see the importance of community gifting and volunteering. My volunteering quota for groups and associations over of the last decade of working life has been exhausted, I can no longer do so and it is time to ensure my family's housing and living needs are met too.
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From the years of research and lived experience of villages I have developed a step by step process that you can see on my website to assist groups of 5 or so residents progress quickly from idea and dream through the planning stages towards realising their dream.
At present I am involved in the concept phase of 5 'Welcome Home Village' projects - three in Queensland and one in NSW. They each are 12-25 self contained dwellings homes clustered together in a regional town with the intention for affordability, social cohesion and ecological regeneration. With early investment, each of these are likely to succeed in two years with investment.
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I've launched a GoFundME campaign to raise $8000 initially towards a $50,000 goal.
These funds will be used to facilitate workshops with future residents and develop project proposals that will enable investors to support willingly.
The progress of the projects and the funds received will be shared regularly via news updates to show you that the funds are going to develop projects.
Can you support me to support others be part of their 'Welcome Home' village?
