The tremendous success and growth of a Hunter organisation has been built on the back of some very committed and passionate people and businesses according to its Group Managing Director Greg Budworth.

Compass Housing quietly celebrated 30 years of putting an affordable roof over people’s heads in a low key way yesterday.

Greg reflected with his staff on how much they had achieved in that time. He congratulated them for all having played a valuable part in the growth and success of Compass.

Compass started as Newmacq Housing on February 12, 1985. It changed its name to Compass Housing in 2007. When Newmacq started it had three part time staff, one office, managed 92 properties and net assets of $142,000.

Today Compass is the largest provider of community housing in Australia. It has 130 staff, 12 offices across the Hunter, Central Coast, Dubbo, Broken Hill and South East Queensland, manages 4,300 properties and its net assets are $335 million. By the middle of this year it will manage more than 9,000 properties when it takes over 5,000 properties in the Queensland city of Logan.

“Our success has come from hard work and everyone united by a common vision for all people to have appropriate and affordable housing and be engaged in sustainable communities,” Greg said.

Greg’s birthday wish is for governments and the community start to address the crisis in social and affordable housing in the Hunter and elsewhere in Australia.

“Insufficient supply of housing is one of the key reasons why an increasing number of people, including working people, are struggling to put a roof over their head” he said.

“I’d love to see affordable housing become an issue for voters and politicians in the upcoming NSW election.”

“With 15,000 Hunter people experiencing housing stress and some living in cars and on friend’s lounges, this is an issue that needs more attention than it gets.”

“We have had some good work done by Government, community and private developers coming together in recent years but I’m looking forward to discussions making way for more action.”

He said addressing insufficient social and affordable housing helps tackle social problems and allows people to be more productive.

“More investment in housing stock will also boost local business and the economy.”

The 30th milestone will be marked with a few celebrations and events this year as well as the publication of a history of the company being written by Cambridge trained historian Dr Tony Gilmour.

Image | Staff join Compass group managing director Greg Budworth in blowing out the candles on a 30th birthday cake