Problems when a Neighbourhood House is NOT a house & Council turns its back!

Most Neighbourhood Houses are actually houses with several rooms and the capacity to run many courses and generate income – NOT the case with the Warrandyte Neighbourhood House in Melbourne’s NE fringe!

This House operates in the Community Centre and pays Manningham Council $12,000 rent pa for its one main room, its Child Care Centre and rooms hired for classes – though none of the Shire’s other 4 Houses do. This is an historical anomaly from when the House was closely linked with a very profitable local Market.

As with most other Houses, WNH subsidises the cost of the Child Care Centre, BUT the Treasurer says they cannot continue to do this. Closing the Centre would jeopardise a vital service to the community, which says Coordinator Karen Throssell, is the only one in the area and REALLY helps Warrandyte’s part-time workers!

IN A NUTSHELL:
1)Occasional Care hourly rates have been put up from $3.50 to $5.50 but they need to go to $7 for it to pay its way and a recent survey shows this is not possible;
2)Councillors have been approached but to no avail – in fact this Council claims to be about to start charging the other 4 Houses rent;
3)a white elephant stall at the House brings in about $50 per week (everything is donated – the Treasurer who loves making jam has developed quite a clientele!)
4)the one big room can be sublet at the weekend, but this doesn’t bring in much;
5)Warrandyte’s income is not as good as other Houses as they don’t have as many rooms and can’t run concurrent classes;
6)The Coordinator is now desperate – she’s going public and the parents have picked up the fight;
7)Even if the Council starts charging the other Houses rent, because WNH has paid rent for 10 years they feel entitled to an ex-gratia payment.

This is a great Neighbourhood House doing its job responding to community needs………….

ANY SUGGESTIONS OUT THERE??

CONTACT KAREN: T: 03 9844 1839 E: info@warrandyteneighbourhoodhouse.org.au