5.2
Combining financial assistance with case management support
I had a case manager and would see her
every two weeks. The program helped me
through my separation with my husband. I
am a single mum and have two children. I
had some bond but not enough. The
service helped me to find a property by
looking on the internet websites, they
helped me to get into to the property and
helped me emotionally after separating
from my husband. I have difficulty with
English so the service helped me liaise with
real estate agents. They also helped me to
get my drivers licence [Client interview].
There was a clear theme from all consulted that
the combination of tangible practical assistance in
the form of a loan combined with private rental
advocacy and support was considered a core
strength of the model. Moreover, providing a
flexible response within the broad parameters of
the eligibility criteria and working collaboratively
with the client in a way that helps them to position
themselves as being ‘loan ready’ has been a critical
success factor in assisting clients to resolve their
housing needs.
People are not just given the money
but provided with assistance through
the whole tenancy process and are
able to negotiate if things are difficult
for them. Many people can turn to
their family for a loan but the clients
we see do not have anyone else that
they can rely on for housing related
support. We can offer support to those
who are able to rent and need a hand
to make it in the private rental market
[Staff focus group].
I received case management support for
housing. They have responded promptly to
any other issues. Case management
support helped with the utility bills and
signing up the service to be able to receive
a concession on my utility bills [Client
interview].
WCC did all of the organising for me.
Whenever I had forms to complete I could
bring it down to here and they would help.
They helped to organise the bond and
application process. They were excellent
and they respond straight away [Client
interview].
It is a very valuable program more than
100 people are supported with
information and advice and a smaller
number are supported with a loan.
They are provided with good support
to help them to manage the loan
[External stakeholder].
I found about the program whilst attending
English training. They helped with
accommodation inspections and gave me
information. This was at the time when I
had to break the lease with the real estate
agent. The service helped to resolve the
matter out of court. WCC provided advice,
legal support and then direct assistance
with helping to secure a rental property.
They provided financial support of $600
loan, and I was able to pay this back at
what I could afford at the time. I received
case management support for housing. I
have been able to contact them whenever I
needed help with utility bills. I still go the
service for English support and courses
[Client interview].
All clients agreed that rapid access to brokerage
funds was the most helpful aspect of the service in
being able to resolve their housing crisis. However,
for some clients, having a case manager to ‘walk
them through’ how the private rental sector works
and how to best present themselves to prospective
landlords was reported to be equally helpful.
Clients also reported that providing references and
liaising with real estate agents on their behalf was
beneficial, particularly when they had previously
submitted multiple applications without success.
Having a number of different services at WCC that
clients could be linked into, including opportunities
to do volunteer work was also reported to be
particularly helpful. Clients reported that the links
between the housing and legal services at WCC
allowed them to have the tenancy issues and
financial needs met in the once place.
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