HomeStart celebrates home loan milestone with Bhutanese community

“The governments may change, the laws may change but let HomeStart do not change the way they treat us in terms of giving home loans,” said Khagendra Khatiwada, who purchased his first home in Australia with the help of HomeStart Finance.

Khatiwada was sharing his story of dream home at a special function organised by HomeStart Finance in Parafield Gardens, SA today (21 June) to celebrate the milestone of 100 Bhutanese families buying homes through HomeStart loans.

Organised coinciding with National Refugee Week, the milestone event showcased Bhutanese dancing, song and food as well.

HomeStart’s Chief Executive Officer John Oliver said the home loans to Bhutanese families began with the five members form the community attending a seminar by the company six year ago.

I congratulate you for being able to own your own home, he said adding, “many of our Bhutanese customers never dreamed they could achieve the goal of home ownership, but they are proof of what can be achieved when government, local councils and other groups work together to cater to all migrant groups.”

Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, the Hon. Zoe Bettison, said she was very happy to celebrate this story of hope among Bhutanese community on the last day of refugee week.

Vice chairperson of the Bhutanese Australian Association of South Australia (BAASA) Lal Rai congratulate everyone who purchased home and thanked HomeStart for making the dreams of Bhutanese families come true.