For 27 years, Jo had been living in a 3-bedroom house with her family.
It had been the right place to raise her children, but as she got older and the children moved out, things were becoming harder to manage. The large garden, uneven outdoor areas and daily house and garden work were no longer easy, especially after a serious fall left her with a broken leg and ongoing mobility challenges.
“I couldn’t walk from the house to the clothesline safely,” Jo says. “The ground was uneven and I kept having falls.”
What Jo needed was a home that felt safer, easier to manage and closer to the people and services she relied on.
13 years ago, she was offered the opportunity to move to a Housing Choices apartment in Hobart, Tasmania and she is still proudly calling it home.
When Jo moved in, neighbours knocked on her door, introduced themselves and told her which unit they were in. This support made the move much easier.
“Everyone’s friendly, everyone’s there to help you if you need anything,” she says.
That sense of belonging settled in quickly, and it’s never left.
Living in the heart of Hobart has also made a big difference to Jo’s health, independence and day-to-day life. Her doctor is nearby, the hospital is easy to get to, and her son lives only a couple of blocks away.
After years of struggling with isolation and uneven ground, Jo now walks around the city most days — something she couldn’t comfortably do before.
For Jo, having a safe and accessible home has meant she can continue living independently, while staying connected to the people and places that matter most.
When things need fixing at home, the Housing Choices maintenance team has never let her down either.
“Amazing. Can’t fault them one bit,” she says.
For Jo, this place means more than four walls. It’s the security of a gated building where she feels safe at night. It’s a craft club every fortnight, knitting jumpers for her grandchildren, her son popping in, and neighbours who check in on her. It’s a whole city on her doorstep.
“It’s a roof over my head,” Jo says. “It’s secure. I feel safe. And I’ve never regretted it.”
