Endeavour Foundation officially opens social housing for people with an intellectual disability

After celebrating her 45th birthday, a Toowoomba woman has received the keys to her new home, thanks to a multimillion-dollar investment in social housing from Endeavour Foundation.

This week has been exciting for more than one reason for Toowoomba woman Annamaree Maguire.

After celebrating her 45th birthday, the icing on the cake was this morning, when she got the keys to her new home.

Built as part of a $35 million investment by the Endeavour Foundation to address the shortage of accessible housing across Queensland, the new house will soon be called home by four people with an intellectual disability.

Annamaree Maguire, Scott Craig and Scott McNalty (right )check out their future home, part of the My Home, My Life accessible homes initiative of the Endeavour Foundation. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Ms Maguire said she was both nervous and excited about the new home.

“I’m not going to be sad at all, because I’m going to be living in my brand-new home,” Ms Maguire said.

“It’s going to be good to live in, and I’m getting a brand-new bedroom.

“I’m very grateful for my new home, it’s a dream come true.”

Originally from Chinchilla, Ms Maguire was joined by her mum Vivienne, and she said it was a relief knowing that her daughter would be soon living in a brand new purpose-built fully accessible home that was purpose built with the friends she has chosen to live with.

“When I heard the news about the new home, I thought it was fantastic,” Mrs Maguire said.

Annamaree Maguire, Scott Craig and Scott McNalty (right) check out their future home, part of the My Home, My Life accessible homes initiative of the Endeavour Foundation. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Ms Maguire’s room-mate, Scott McNalty, had the honour of being the first through the front door at Tuesday’s official opening ceremony and said it was a thrill to have a new place to call home.

“I was amazed when I opened the door,” he said.

“I’m excited with the new house, because it’s pretty good.

“I’ve picked the room that I wanted, so that was exciting.

“I love the kitchen and the dining room and everything else in there. The bathroom is pretty good, and we even got a fridge where you can crush the ice. It’s a really good house, I love it.”

Endeavour Foundation CEO Andrew Donne said he was proud to be completing the first part of the foundation’s new accessible homes program as Endeavour celebrated its 70th anniversary.