A clean slate for Jane

Published: 

25 May 2026 11:40AM

Social housing tenant, Jane, downsized to a smaller unit after her children grew up and moved out.

Jane was apprehensive at first, but the new flat was a pleasant surprise.

‘The kids grow, and you are left on your own. I thought it was going to be terrible in all honesty. I had been in my house for 28 years.

‘But this was the best decision. You couldn’t get me out of here now. This is home.’

Always a gardener, Jane is happy to be able to continue her love of growing plants in her new home.

‘The other house was really dark, and I couldn’t grow plants. Now when I come through that door, it’s like another world. It's light everywhere.

‘I love my plants, and you don’t know how many plants I lost to the dark. But here, you bring any plant in, and it grows. They’re just thriving.’

Jane is also thriving in her new home. With a friend down the hall and the shops just across the street, Jane feels she has everything she needs on her doorstep.

‘When I come home, and I shut that door, nothing exists but here. I just feel at home. I have all my stuff. I’m growing what I want. It’s my space now.

‘No one has lived in here before me, so it’s a clean slate. And it’s a clean slate for me too.’

If you or someone you know needs housing help

Call 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or contact your local Housing Service Centre.

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