Nearly a year after moving into their home at Swift Walk, Thangjam says the biggest change isn’t the apartment itself. It’s the peace of mind that comes with knowing his family has somewhere secure to call home.
“Since moving here, we’ve had a secure place to live,” he says. “My wife and our little boy have been able to settle in.”
When the family first moved in, their son Jacob was still a baby. After years in shared accommodation, having a home of their own has made everyday life simpler. The lift makes it easy to take the pram downstairs, nearby parks give Jacob space to explore, and shops, public transport and essential services are all close by.
“It’s much easier,” Thangjam says. “We can just put him in the pram and go.”
As they settled in, Housing Choices kept supporting the family. When they needed a car space, Housing Allocations Officer Britta helped arrange one. Earlier, she had recognised that the one-bedroom apartment they were first offered would not meet the needs of a growing family, and helped them secure a two-bedroom home instead.
“That made a huge difference for us,” Thangjam says.
Today the apartment is the backdrop to family life. After work, Thangjam comes home to his wife and son. They share dinner before heading to the rooftop to take in the city views while Jacob explores.
“When he’s happy, we’re happy too,” he says.
Perhaps the biggest change is what the family no longer has to think about. Instead of worrying about where they will live next, they are planning for Jacob’s future.
“We’re looking at childcare, schools and planning for his education,” Thangjam says. “We’re able to focus on the bigger parts of our life now.”
For Thangjam, that is what a stable home has made possible. “That pressure and stress have gone away.”
About Swift Walk
Thangjam and family live at Swift Walk, a new mixed-tenure housing precinct in Kensington delivered through a partnership between Housing Choices Australia and Assemble, with investment from HESTA and support from the Australian Government’s Housing Australia Future Fund Facility (HAFF). The development includes social and affordable homes alongside shared green spaces and community facilities, and is designed to provide secure, long-term housing close to transport, jobs and essential services. Swift Walk reflects how collaboration between community housing providers, developers and institutional investors can help deliver high-quality housing that supports people and communities to thrive.
