WHITE Horse Housing Association is helping its tenants who are struggling with the cost of living crisis through a Discretionary Support Fund that last year came to the aid of more than 170 households.
Last year the housing association, which this year celebrates its 40th anniversary and has more than 400 homes in rural areas across Swindon, Wiltshire and Somerset, was able to award more tenants than £20,000 in payments and vouchers and it has another £23,000 for tenant support until September.
It set up the fund in response to the plight of tenants who were falling into rent arrears because they were struggling to pay heating bills or feed their families. Originally £6,000 was set aside for the fund from the housing association’s reserves but, said Operations Director Belinda Eastland, with the rising cost of living it became clear that would not be enough to meet the demand.
Wiltshire Council invited housing associations operating within the county to apply for an allocation of the Household Support Fund from the Government. “As a result we were granted an initial award of £12,000 in October, followed by a further £5,000 towards the end of the year. For 2024 we have been granted another £17,000,” said Mrs Eastland.
“We’re very grateful for the support of the council, together with our own budget, it has allowed us to make 264 payments to 88 of our most vulnerable households,” she said. “We are delighted to have that support once again.”
The association’s housing officers also successfully applied for £4,000 from the HACT Fuel Fund to provide vulnerable tenants with electricity vouchers.
The majority of the support provided from the fund last year was through food vouchers, but there was also help with utility costs, rent arrears assistance, council tax assistance and damage caused by domestic violence.
“We were able to support vulnerable households through the worst part of the winter and the Christmas period,” said Mrs Eastland. “We had an overwhelmingly positive response from our tenants and we believe that was reflected in the satisfaction rates we received in our tenant survey at the end of last year.”
The survey found that 96 per cent of its tenants are satisfied with its service, more than three-quarters believe the association makes a positive contribution to their neighbourhood and 85 per cent say it listens to their views and acts upon them.
After receiving a Discretionary Support Fund grant one tenant wrote to staff: “Thank you for thinking of us, so kind. It brought a tear to my eye. We didn’t expect that much.” Another said: “I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart and say how much I appreciate the payment.”
White Horse Housing Association tenants who are struggling financially can email the housing association at info@whitehorsehousing.co.uk for a confidential assessment.