For eight years Melissa and Ray Gow and their three children - Caisey (15), Tyler (13) and Simone (10) - have called a property in Spring Street, East Orange, home.
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They've established roots and become a part of the community.
The kids go to local schools and have friends close by with whom they can play and hang out.
When Melissa Gow received a knock on the front door a little over a week ago, she'd just finished a school drop-off and had made a cup of coffee.
The last person she expected to see was a government representative bearing a letter from the Department of Communities & Justice.
Over the course of about an hour the woman explained that, as per the letter, the NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) "intends to redevelop the property in which you currently live. This means that you will need to be relocated to alternative accommodation".
According to the letter, "Redevelopment is a process where NSW Land and Housing Corporation improves properties, complexes, or areas by upgrading them, or demolishing them and replacing them with new, and more properties that are suitable for social housing tenants".
Mrs Gow said the woman told her "nothing had been done yet as far as planning or council approval, but they were notifying us of their plans to move us to a different house, and they said they would help us through it".
She said she was told nothing was likely to happen before Christmas.
The lack of certainty has caused her a great deal of worry over where the family might be relocated to and when it may happen.
"I was stunned, and it was all a bit overwhelming actually," Mrs Gow said.
"I was in shock so I didn't really get to ask the questions I wanted to.
"They have offered us help in the moving, and they said we would be in a nice area.
"But we've had to move a lot in the past and we're really settled here."
The children attend East Orange Public School and Canobolas Rural Technology High School, and Mrs Gow is unsure whether she will have to enrol them in different schools next year.
Neighbour Justine Dunn is upset that the family is being relocated, and is rallying locals to try and help have the decision reversed.
"It'll really suck to lose such lovely neighbours," she said.
"Ray's done a lot of work and the garden is lovely and it really has their imprint.
"Melissa's youngest daughter and my son were born a month apart, and they've been friends since they were two years old.
"They're now 10, and they won't be able to just come and play at each other's houses."
The Gows and supporters are meeting deputy mayor Glenn Taylor on Friday, and are contacting state MP Phil Donato in the hope of enlisting his help.
A spokesperson for Housing NSW said no decision had been made about the future of the properties on Spring Street.
He said if families are relocated the department would do its best to ensure the children stay within the same school catchment.
For now, Mrs Gow is in a holding pattern, unsure what the future has in store.
As she talked about the front garden, her voice dropped.
"Our boy that we lost, his ashes are in one of the rose bushes," she explained.
"I guess we'll have to move it."
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