1998

16th February 1998
Church and Government Collaborate: New Housing for Hunter's Aged
Catholic Care of the Aged (CCA), the aged care arm of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, in collaboration with the Department of Housing will open ten self-care units for aged people of the Newcastle and Hunter areas this Thursday (19 February 1998) under the Housing Partnership Program (HPP).

Signalling the completion of more than three years work toward the planning, design and construction of the self-care units, Stage Two of St Joseph's Village will be blessed by the Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle, the Most Rev Michael Malone, and officially opened by the Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning and Minister for Housing, the Hon Craig Knowles.

Costing around $1 million, the new five two-bedroom and five one-bedroom units at St Joseph's Village will provide homes for up to 15 people aged 55+. The Department of Housing contributed a $500,000 grant to provide accommodation for public housing tenants with the remainder of the funds coming from the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.

According to Ralph Watson, Chief Executive Officer for CCA, "This housing project illustrates how non-government and government agencies can work together for the benefit of the community, and in this case, provide low cost housing options for retirees who may not normally be able to access village-style accommodation."

St Joseph's Village is one of a number of aged care facilities owned by the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle and managed by CCA. Other accommodation facilities managed by CCA include nursing homes, hostels and self-care units located throughout the Newcastle, Hunter and Manning regions.

The self-care units at St Joseph's Village are of very modern construction with an emphasis on providing a comfortable and home-like environment. Situated between Newcastle and Maitland, on Old Maitland Road Sandgate, St Joseph's Village is served by bus transport, close to shopping facilities and adjacent to St Joseph's Nursing Home.

People living in the units will have the opportunity to access services (if required) provided by St Joseph's Nursing Home on a fee for service basis. These services include help with meals, housekeeping and participation in social activities.

The blessing and opening ceremony will begin at 10.30am on Thursday at St Joseph's Village (Stage Two), Old Maitland Road, Sandgate.

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