Landlords challenged to help this Christmas

Published: 18 December 2011

LANDLORDS Paul and Robin Williams have decided to put their money where their mouth is when it comes to the true meaning of Christmas.

The Gold Coast Catholic couple, who own a rental property in Bellingen, Northern NSW, are giving their tenants a week free of rent to help them have a joyous Christmas and are challenging other Australian landlords to do the same.

Mrs Williams said the house was rented to extended family and a hiccup to the family's normal routine was going to make Christmas that much harder.

"These guys are your true Aussie battlers, a couple with a blended family of four kids, one working and studying while the other is trying to make a go of a home business while studying," she said.

"They are great, reliable tenants but, like hundreds of thousands of other Aussie battlers - both young families and aged pensioners - they live in a constant state of survival mode where every cent is carefully accounted for.

"A ripple in the routine means something has to go."

The Williams' said while they were not well off, most of their family were now young adults and it was their turn to give back.

"Fifteen years ago we were probably in the same boat, and when times were toughest our families helped out, now it is time for us to do our bit," Mrs Williams said.

"... Our charities are already stretched to the hilt so, after giving the issues some thought, we decided 'Aussies helping Aussies' maintained the dignity of battlers and at the same time let them know how much their efforts were valued and respected.

"I went to Rome for the canonisation of Mary MacKillop last year and I was struck by her philosophy of never seeing a need without doing something about it.

"If she was here today she would no doubt do exactly the same."
Mrs Williams said there was an old saying about there being "a fine line between need and greed", and she said good, long-term tenants meant less vacancy time so their Christmas gesture was "really just rewarding good tenants and recognising their value".

"We are now putting the challenge out there for other landlords, particularly Catholic landlords, who have good, honest Aussie battlers as tenants to do the same," she said.

"Give them a week rent-free between now and Christmas and ... recognise Jesus' call for social justice and compassion to our fellow man."

The Williams' tenants Samuel (Zacc) and Laura Bowen said they were overwhelmed by the gesture and hoped the "Aussies helping Aussies - Christmas Challenge" was taken up in towns and communities around Australia.

"We want to use social media to get the message out there and we hope the idea will go viral," Mr Bowen said.

"We have already set up a Facebook site (facebook.com/aussieshelpingaussies) so other tenants can share when their landlords do the same (as the Williams')."

Mrs Bowen, who spent many years as a St Vincent de Paul Society volunteer, said demand for assistance was at its highest in the two weeks leading up to Christmas each year.

"Most people have no idea how many people there are who can make it on their own for the rest of the year (but) need support from charities leading up to Christmas," she said.

"They honestly can't do rent and Christmas at the same time and it devastates them."

Robin Williams is a journalist with The Catholic Leader