Reflections from The Cottage Homes 2025 Annual Report
For over 150 years, The Cottage Homes Incorporated (TCHI) has been quietly but powerfully supporting older South Australians with access to safe, secure, and affordable rental housing. In a time where demand for such housing has never been higher, we remain deeply committed to our mission—and incredibly grateful to the community that helps us fulfil it.
At our 153rd Annual General Meeting in June, we released the 2025 Annual Report, providing an overview of our achievements and the challenges we continue to face. The report offers a window into the work being done behind the scenes to ensure our residents—many of whom live solely on the Age Pension—can enjoy a secure, comfortable, and dignified place to call home.
“Through the help and guidance of many, we have been helping older people with affordable and secure housing for over 150 years. Yet there is much more work to be done.”
– David O’Loughlin, Board Chair
A Place to Call Home—When It’s Needed Most
Among the most memorable moments of the year was welcoming a new resident—an 80-year-old woman who had been living in her car. Her story is not unique. Rising living costs, limited rental stock, and high demand for social housing are putting older people at serious risk of homelessness.
“The shortage of long-term housing options for older and younger people alike should concern us all,” David O’Loughlin said.
“Cottage Homes is rising to the challenge.”
Strategic Growth and Expansion Plans
With housing affordability continuing to deteriorate, we know that our work must grow. This year, TCHI made several important steps to expand our reach:
- Ascot Park: We purchased a house next to our existing site, making room for four new units in the future.
- First Regional Site: A land lease agreement has been signed with Club Fleurieu, with plans underway to build up to 14 transportable units at Yankalilla—which will create our first location beyond metropolitan Adelaide.
- Glenelg: We engaged an architect to explore additional units at our existing Glenelg site.
- Buyers’ Agent Appointed: To assist in identifying new opportunities near our current sites.
Of course, we face ongoing financial hurdles. Current estimates place the construction cost of a one- or two-bedroom unit between $350,000–$500,000, not including land—which can reach $200,000 per unit in well-located suburbs. These are challenging figures for a small not-for-profit, but we remain committed to finding ways forward.
Upgrades, Refurbishments and Resident Improvements
Throughout the year, we invested in maintaining and improving the homes we already have. Notable projects included:
- A major external upgrade of our Mitcham site ($1.5M+), including beautifully landscaped gardens supported by volunteers and donors.
- The Prospect carpark resurfacing and full internal refurbishments in multiple units.
- Partial and full unit refurbishments across Glenelg, Findon, Parkside and Toorak Gardens.
- Safety improvements such as hot water system replacements, structural repairs, and updated plumbing and electrical systems.
We thank our residents for their patience during works, and we’re pleased to report that the upgrades were well-received and have made a tangible difference.
People Power: Volunteers, Visitors and the Board
Our small but mighty network of Volunteer Visitors continues to play a crucial role—checking in with residents, building community connection, and often resolving issues before they escalate.
We welcomed new Visitors, Committee Members, and a new Board Member—Alice Lawson, recently retired from the SA Housing Trust—whose housing systems experience has already proven invaluable. We also farewelled much-loved Visitors and Board Members who generously gave their time to the Cottage Homes community.
Our governance was further strengthened through a skills matrix, policy audits, and new Board training initiatives. With the help of our Finance, Audit, and Risk Committee, we also developed a new 10-year financial model to guide sustainable growth.
Communication, Community & Connection
This year saw the continuation of our quarterly newsletter and growth of our social media presence. We’ve also begun planning how best to protect and preserve the organisation’s historical archives—some of which date back to our founding in 1872.
We were delighted to receive renewed support from Christ Church North Adelaide, where Cottage Homes was originally founded. Their generous annual financial contribution reflects the strength of that 153-year relationship. We were equally uplifted by Rosefield Uniting Church, whose members not only donated to our garden project but rolled up their sleeves to help plant and beautify it.
Looking Ahead with Purpose
“Any assistance you or others you know could offer would be greatly appreciated,” writes David O’Loughlin in the report. “A donation of a single unit will last up to 100 years under our care and house many older tenants during its lifetime. 100 years of somewhere for many to call home? What a legacy that would be.”
Whether you’re a partner, supporter, donor, volunteer, or simply someone who believes everyone deserves a safe place to live—we thank you for walking alongside us. The challenges ahead are real, but so is our resolve.
📄 Read the full 2025 Annual Report.
💙 Support our work: whether it’s a donation or a legacy gift, your support helps us grow.