Stacey Northover grew up in the United Kingdom’s community housing system. Now, as the Executive General Manager of Housing Services at Believe Housing Australia, she is giving back to the community she came from. (Image supplied: Stacey Northover)

By Caitlin Menadue | @caitlinmenadue

Community housing: a term that has a different meaning for everyone. Community housing is frequently perceived to be where jobless drug and alcohol addicts are given accommodation by government organisations. It is not seen as a helping hand to get people on the positive journey they want to be on. Many people envision community houses to be run-down and poorly maintained with small bedrooms and living space, where families live on top of each other. In reality, those assumptions are often untrue.

Community housing is provided by not-for-profit organisations, such as Anglicare and Believe Housing Australia, who own and manage rented housing for vulnerable people. Contrary to popular belief, community housing is provided more for low income earners, those who have experienced homelessness, people living with disability, domestic violence survivors, and First Nations peoples.

For Stacey Northover, her experience growing up in community housing was a positive one. As a six-month-old child, Northover moved into her first community house with her family in the United Kingdom. They were blessed to be allocated a brand-new house on a new estate.

“I was fortunate enough to have my own bedroom, my own space,” Northover says.

“That was so important growing up as a young child to have your own space and that you’ve got the safety and security within the home,” she says.

To Northover, the property felt like a safe and secure environment that her mother and father created — it was a home, not just a house.

Living in the same community for half of her life, Northover was able to go to school and make friends without the fear of always moving around and never seeing people again. Being established within the community meant her family was able to settle with healthcare professionals, alongside all of the benefits that come along with being a part of a community for an extended period of time.

The Northover family were able to stay in the same property for 14 years before they moved to a new property.

“I stayed [at the second property] for five years until I moved out on my own. I’ve only ever lived in the family home in two properties,” Northover says.  

“I had no fear on where I was going to sleep. I had a really good childhood,” she says.

Northover’s family was able to experience Christmases in their house, which she says she was always thankful for. However, it wasn’t always such a positive, happy time for the family as they struggled in certain areas, as did everyone who lived in community housing. Northover’s father had disabilities, which made their life challenging at times, but they worked together as a family and got through it.

At the age of 15, Northover began work experience with the same housing officer and organisation that supported her family. This is exactly where her love for her job comes from.

“I was super driven,” Northover says. “I knew I wanted to [work in community housing] because I really saw how [the housing officer] helped us with my family,” she says.

Northover saw her housing officer as a mentor that guided her, and was in awe of her ability to support a family and build a relationship with them. This is a key reason for Northover’s desire to return the favour to those in need.

“It’s my identity and I really align myself with that,” she says.

“I’m here to make a difference and to leave the world in a better place.”

After working in the UK housing industry for 22 years, Northover is now living in Australia with her two children and husband, who support her unconditionally in what she does. She has proved herself in various roles, progressing into her current position as the Executive General Manager of Housing Services at Believe Housing Australia, a part of the Anglicare SA group.

“Hierarchy is something that we have to have, but we’re all together. I’m really a mouthpiece and a voice to help the tenants and staff deliver what they need to do,” Northover says.

“My wider purpose is so much bigger than working here. It’s about helping people and having a basic human work for housing, and that’s my ‘North Star’.”

Asked if she has any advice for people growing up in community housing, Northover says remaining motivated in the face of hardship is key.

“Be clear on what you want. Never be deterred from what your aspirations are by someone else [wanting] to put you in a box,” Northover says.

“Don’t think of your world as ‘small’, think of your world as ‘big’ and it’s whatever you want it to be,” she says.  

“University was not a conversation to even have, because we didn’t have the money to be able to afford it … that didn’t mean I couldn’t make the best of what I had, and I always worked hard.”

A key piece of advice Northover gives is to pick a career that you love, because you will spend a lot of time and give a lot of effort to any particular job. She is now entering her 25th year working in the community housing industry.

“At this point, I am able to call myself an expert in what I do, and I really love it,” Northover says.

“Fortunately for me, I’ve got this great job right now … and so long as I’m going in that direction of what my personal purpose is to achieve, it makes it easier to be away from my kids, because I know there’s a reason for me doing this.”