Emma

You just never know where life will take you, but Emma Freeland said she does not regret the journey which eventually saw her as an Evolve Housing resident. 

Emma, 36, her husband, 50, and their two children, Gabriel and Tisa, found themselves living with different family members over the years. First with her uncle in Campbelltown, and then in Auburn with her aunty before deciding it was time to find a place for themselves that was affordable and accommodating to their family size. 

“My husband was delivering newspapers and advertisements to mailboxes about three to four times a week and was bringing back only $200 a month. We eventually moved to my aunt’s home and my husband got a job through her as a forklift driver. Things were great and I’m grateful to my aunty, but it was time to find our own home,” Emma said. 

Emma stumbled upon Evolve Housing’s phone number and spoke to a member of the team who explained the affordable housing process through our real estate entity EchoRealty. 

Emma was looking for a house with three bedrooms so her children, a son and daughter, could live and grow up comfortably. The property manager informed her that there was one three-bedroom house available, an affordable housing dwelling owned by Evolve Housing. Emma put in an application and the house was hers. 

“We were the first people to move into the place, and we stayed there for almost eight years. When we got the house, we were so thankful because Evolve Housing saved us from anything else,” she said. 

Something that stuck out about their new home was a sign at the disability organisation across the street that read, “Little by little”, which reminded Emma to take one step at a time. 

Unexpectedly, tragedy struck when Emma’s husband required a massive operation and was recovering at home for a year. Emma was not working because she was looking after the kids but knew she had to do something to help her family. “I decided to look at doing a course.  

On the Evolve Housing website, there was a free course in Individual Support in Ageing. It was a Certificate 3, and I love challenging myself, so I signed up.” 

Emma also encouraged her husband to do the same course. While she studied, Emma found a job at a meat factory and was helping her family any way she could, before the pair went on to complete their Certificate 4. 

When her husband finished his course, he needed to do work placement so Emma encouraged him to go ask the disability organisation across the road to see if he could complete his placement there. 

After a week of placement, Emma’s husband was offered full-time work. Emma knew this was the beginning of something great. She got her husband to ask on her behalf if they could interview her. Eventually, the pair were working together full-time in different departments, and things were going well. 

Emma never imagined her family would move from the Evolve Housing property, but then one day, a colleague offered her home to Emma to rent.  

“We moved out of the Evolve Housing property last year. I knew it was the right decision because my kids are growing up and it was time to move on. Our new home has four bedrooms with a massive double lounge, dining area, three showers and toilets, a spacious laundry area, backyard and garage. I’m very happy and the bills are manageable,” she said. 

Emma said that without Evolve Housing’s support her family wouldn’t have found themselves in this position. 

She can’t thank Evolve Housing enough for everything they did to support her and her family. 

“My husband is so happy because sometimes we talk about what we’ve achieved. We appreciate how far we’ve come with the help of Evolve Housing. 

“Being tenants at Evolve Housing gave us the opportunity to save and look at us now. We’re both working full time and have given someone else in need, the opportunity to be supported by Evolve Housing.”