Settlement clients often found out about the
program through their involvement in English
classes facilitated and organised by WCC.
Settlement clients generally accessed the HBSP for
both financial assistance and help in navigating
their way around the private rental sector.
Another client reported finding out about the
program after reading a news article on a former
client that had been assisted by the program.
Clients who accessed the service with histories of
homelessness or longer-term housing insecurity
were typically engaged with a number of other
housing and welfare services in the area and have
relied on the housing service system for ongoing
support over a long period of time in order to
meet their day to day and ongoing support needs.
Clients with experience of longer-term housing
instability were typically referred to the program
via other support services. Individuals with highly
complex needs continued to be supported through
a range of programs, including WCC after receipt
of their brokerage loan.
to secure the property. Although the amount is
limited to the total pool of funds that is available
and only a small number of clients can be assisted
in a given year. Being able to adjust repayments as
circumstances changed, either as a result of
unexpected events that impacted upon cash flow
or whether circumstances improved from gaining
employment was a further strength of the model.
All clients interviewed received a brokerage loan
to assist with the shortfall in savings but the
amounts of housing assistance required varied.
Some clients were in need of the full amount of
rent in advance for a month whilst others reported
accessing a number of services to try to ‘package
together’ enough money. Whilst some clients
reported being able to access existing government
provided Housing Establishment Fund (HEF)
money, the amount was not enough to meet the
full month of rent in advance that is required to
secure the property. Some clients reported
accessing HEF brokerage money for two weeks
rent in advance and then make up the difference
for the remaining two weeks with a brokerage loan
from WCC.
I was initially receiving support from
[another service] but they were not really
able to help with my housing and I was
transitioned to WCC [Client interview].
I contacted other housing services – we got
some funds from them two weeks rent HEF
money. I have been using services for a
long time – have been homeless. With WCC
you know the money is guaranteed and
there are no delays. There are a few other
services but they are not in the zone so I
was not able to access this support [Client
interview].
I have been coming to WCC for a long time
using different programs including their
English classes. I was already connected to
the service [Client interview].
5.1.2
Flexible and collaborative
approach to loan management
I received some HEF funding from another
service but it was not enough to meet the
full months rent so I combined the HEF
money with the loan. I am very happy with
the service. I repay $20 coming out of my
Centrelink pay. There are no problems
[Client interview].
A common theme amongst clients with respect to
the reasons for seeking assistance was the
difficulty they experienced in raising money for a
new property whilst still paying rent and existing
bills for the housing they were living in or recently
moved out of. A critical strength of the model, and
where it was considered to be filling existing
service gaps in private rental support programs, is
the flexibility to provide the amount that is needed
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