Mardi Bell, Senior Manager, Assets at Women’s Housing Company, has spent more than 20 years shaping how safe, sustainable housing is delivered for women. With deep expertise in strategic asset management and facilities delivery, she leads the work behind maintaining and improving homes, so they remain places of stability, dignity and growth.
Q. What does quality housing mean to you?
A. “Quality housing is a safe, comfortable and well-maintained property that meets essential living standards, supports women’s wellbeing and provides a secure home where they can grow and feel a sense of belonging within their community.”
Q. Why is safe, well-designed housing so important for women’s recovery and stability?
A. “Safe, well-designed housing is vital for women’s recovery and long-term stability because it provides a secure and calming environment where they can finally feel protected and at ease.
A stable, comfortable space helps rebuild confidence, fosters emotional wellbeing and supports their ability to focus on creating a healthier future.
Most importantly, quality housing gives women a renewed sense of independence, empowering them to make their own decisions, take control of their lives and move forward with strength and dignity.”
Q. How do property upgrades improve outcomes for our tenants?
A. “Buildings naturally age and wear down over time. Providing women with a fresh, clean and modern space to call home creates an environment that is easier to maintain, more comfortable to live in and genuinely uplifting for their wellbeing and sense of pride.”
Q. How do you support Women’s Housing Company’s long-term growth and impact?
A. “To support sustainable growth, we need strong, high-quality assets that we can confidently leverage into the future.
Maintaining our properties as they age is essential, as it prevents them from becoming outdated, unviable or requiring major, unaffordable repairs down the track. By carrying out upgrades and maintenance systematically and in line with life cycle guidelines, we ensure our portfolio remains modern, functional and financially healthy.
This proactive approach protects asset value, reduces long-term costs and strengthens the Women’s Housing Company’s position as a responsible, future-focused organisation with the capacity to borrow, invest and continue delivering safe, secure housing for women.”
Q. What challenges and opportunities come with delivering high-quality housing?
A “Delivering high quality housing comes with several challenges, including low availability of suitable stock, rising construction costs and increasing expenses associated with essential services, compliance and building materials.
Funding can also be difficult to secure, especially as prices continue to escalate and competition for resources grows.
However, these challenges also create opportunities to think creatively, form strong partnerships, seek new funding streams and explore more efficient, sustainable building practices. By approaching these obstacles strategically, we can continue to improve the quality of the housing we deliver and ensure better outcomes for the women we support.”
Q. What does it mean to you to provide homes that truly support women’s futures?
A. “Providing quality homes supports women’s futures because it means we are doing our job, and offering stability to women who may need a hand during difficult times.
Some tenants stay with us only briefly, while others remain with us for many years, and knowing that we can support them at any point in their journey is incredibly meaningful.
By giving women a safe, comfortable and well-designed home, we are not only meeting their immediate needs but also helping them build confidence, independence and a stronger foundation for whatever comes next in their lives. It is rewarding to know that the housing we provide can make a real difference and positively shape someone’s future.”
Mardi is currently overseeing a range of refurbishment projects across our portfolio, including the full renovation of 12 newly acquired two-bedroom units in Liverpool, window replacements in an Ashfield complex, multiple bathroom upgrades in Randwick, Campsie and the Northern Beaches, and kitchen refurbishments across Marrickville and Merrylands.
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