Did you know there are more neighbourhood houses in Victoria than McDonalds stores?
Our peak body NHVic published this statistic last week. And I think to many it’s a bit of a surprise. Maybe our 400+ houses 🏡 need bigger signs … or a Happy Meal deal.
This week is neighbourhood house week - an opportunity to reflect on our sector’s collective contribution to local community.
Like Maccas, our houses are lean delivery machines - we have tight budgets and economic efficiency is at our core. We seek grants to boost our coffers, work in partnerships with local organisations to stretch our reach, and rely on volunteers and community goodwill to deliver services well beyond our paid capacity.
Like Maccas we’re definitely family friendly. We anticipate that adults are going to rock up with children in tow. We expect it will be the norm rather than the exception. And so we have play spaces and toys available. But we also offer other practical support for families - through playgroups and toy libraries, family yoga, and after-school Lego clubs, music lessons etc. Some houses have occasional care and full school holiday programs. Some are linked to maternal and child health care services.
Yes, like Maccas food is part of our core business. We understand firstly that food is essential. And secondly, that it is a way to bring people together. Across neighbourhood houses we offer community meals (lunches and morning teas), take-home meals and essential food relief packages. We also focus on community cooking experiences, nutrition education and sustainable food systems. We use multiple mechanisms to ensure that people in the community have secure access to good quality food.
However we’re also into more than food. Because good food is just one part of the package of living well … so we try to ensure that people are safe, secure, and connected, whilst keeping fit and active, engaged with nature and continuing to learn and grow throughout life.
Like Maccas we are pretty focussed on customer service. We try to be welcoming, polite, friendly, positive and helpful. We want our customers to return again and again. But … we also stop to chat and recognise each person as an individual. We make friends with people. And we try to help them find just the right place within the context of their community (what I am saying is we work hard to help people find their tribe).
On a day-to-day level we run programs and activities and garner support to help the people who are the most vulnerable - those who feel lonely or disconnected, those that are new to the neighbourhood, older, disabled, or facing significant life challenges. We design and foster experiences and environments to help them establish the local connections and reliable networks they need to live a good life.
Unlike Maccas, (fortunately or unfortunately as the case may be) neighbourhood houses don’t all look the same … and we don’t have a uniform. Our staff and our organisations come in all shapes and sizes. Because our houses reflect their neighbourhood, and more likely than not, the edges of that neighbourhood. Mostly houses emerged from grassroots women’s organisations, and the ‘house’ is actually the old unused or abandoned church hall, scout hall, maternal and child health centre or rates office, tucked away next to the train line or adjacent to the community swimming pool.
So, unlike Maccas, most neighbourhood houses are not front and centre on the main drag of town.
But … next time when you are travelling around Victoria and notice the golden arches on the most prominent corner, perhaps you could also look out for the small street sign that points you to the nearest neighbourhood house. Because a neighbourhood house or two is, statistically speaking, pretty likely to be close by - bustling away in the back streets, welcoming local individuals and building community connections. Strengthening neighbourhoods and helping people to live well.
