Launch Housing congratulates inaugural Commissioner for Residential Tenancies

Launch Housing congratulates inaugural Commissioner for Residential Tenancies, Dr Heather Holst

Launch Housing congratulates outgoing Acting CEO Dr Heather Holst on her appointment as Victoria’s first Commissioner for Residential Tenancies.

Heather has served as Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer of Launch Housing since its inception in 2015. Heather came through to Launch Housing from HomeGround Services where she had been CEO for three years and General Manager Client Services from 2009.

Launch Housing Chair Neil Chatfield said:

“On behalf of the Board and the entire Launch Housing family, I extend my congratulations to Heather on this milestone achievement. This is a significant role and with her extensive knowledge and experience, she is the perfect person for the job.

“For Launch Housing, Heather leaves behind an outstanding legacy of growing our client services and housing work, combining her sector expertise with her passion to positively influence change in the field of homelessness and housing affordability. Heather provided crucial leadership during the merger and transition, and has been a strong spokesperson and advocate for Launch Housing and our 18,000 clients.

“Throughout her time at Launch Housing, Heather has been a driving force in delivering excellent services, building strong partnerships and seizing innovative housing supply and service delivery opportunities.

“We are thankful for Heather’s outstanding contribution and commitment, and we wish her well in her future work.”

Dr Heather Holst, Deputy CEO and COO said:

“It’s been a great honour to work with so many passionate, skilled and caring people making a difference to the lives of so many. In Australia, on any given day, 116,000 people are experiencing homelessness. Fortunately, Launch Housing is better positioned than ever before to be a leading voice and actor in this field to work towards ending homelessness.

“It has also been my experience that the sad, frustrating and unjust situations that mean an agency like Launch Housing is required, do take a toll on those who work to deliver the best possible services amid an enormous undersupply of housing. We have grown Launch Housing in order to respond, and I hope that the wider community will also rise to the occasion so that together we can really tackle homelessness.

“I’m glad to know I’ll be leaving the organisation in capable, professional hands. It is moving into its next chapter as a merged and leading organisation in housing and homelessness, and I know Launch Housing will continue to innovate and continue to meet the needs of its clients.”

About Launch Housing

Launch Housing is a Melbourne based, secular and independent community agency formed in July 2015. Launch Housing’s mission is to end homelessness. It provides high quality housing, support, education and employment services to thousands of people across 14 sites in metropolitan Melbourne.