Tenant Story: Sonya

Before moving into her Aboriginal Housing home in Boronia, Sonya lived in emergency housing in Mt Waverley.

Sonya is guardian to her sister Lisa’s two young girls, and has two adult sons of her own, one who lives in far North Queensland and another who lives close by.

Sonya’s mum comes from Lake Tyers in South Gippsland and her dad from South Australia. He grew up in boys’ homes but his family are from Innamincka. Sonya grew up in foster care and has lived in lots of places before finding the place she calls home.

Sonya loves her house and her garden. She has set up the front garden as a vegetable garden, so that the backyard can be used for entertainment for her family and friends. Her dad built a cubby house for the girls. She loves gardening and grows tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, radishes, corn, broccoli, peas and beans. She likes to work the land, eat home grown and live sustainably.

Sonya works at Eastern Health as a cleaner and enjoys her job and the security of being permanent part time. She works close to home. The girls go to school locally. It is a great area and Sonya loves that there are parks everywhere, there are shops nearby, a local cinema, a bowling alley and it feels nice and safe.

Living in Aboriginal Housing makes her feel a part of the community, it offers her security and makes her feel that she is treated equally – which hasn’t always been the case.