Mercian Tenancy Support Empowers and Improves Lives of People in Need
Mercian, a leading West Midlands housing association, offers tenancy support services to its most vulnerable tenants in Birmingham and Walsall areas. The service is provided as part of the Government’s Supporting People programme to offer support service for people living on benefits or with social problems. It aims to enable people to stay independent in their homes and empower them to achieve better life for them and their families.
The service is open to tenants who feel they need support with two experienced support workers who provide free of charge help in variety of areas including welfare benefits, domestic violence, home budgeting, training and employment, home disabled adaptations, alcohol and drug abuse, anti-social behaviour. The service is available for the period of six months and can be extended based on individual needs. It currently can provide help to up to 30 clients.
The service works closely in partnership with social services, housing benefit and many local support agencies to ensure meeting individual needs and best outcomes for people who need support.
The tenancy support service recently helped Mercian tenant, Doreen Molloy with adaptations and social inclusion. Dorren is a lovely 80 year old lady living alone in a bungalow in Kings Norton which has been adapted for a disabled person following Doreen’s life threatening operation and subsequent deterioration of her health and inability to remain independent.
Thanks to the support service offered to Doreen Molloy from Mercian, she has been given a bath seat suited to her needs allowing her to bath herself independently without worrying that she may fall and cause herself an injury.
Because Dorren lives on her own, her support worker Kamla Chauhan, contacted one of Mercian’s sheltered schemes – Cheshire Court in Shard End and Doreen was invited to come and meet some of the tenants. Doreen met there two of her old friends and became a regular visitor at the scheme enjoying making new friends and taking part in the scheme activities such as bingos, lunches or external trips.
Commenting on the support received from the Mercian service Doreen said: ”I am so pleased with all the help that I received. I was really worried that I would have to go to a nursing home but I really wanted to stay in my own home. I can now continue living independently and thanks to visits to Cheshire Court I have made many friends. I love going there and feel that my life is so much better than before.”
To enquire about the Tenancy Support Service please contact Kamla Chauhan kchauhan@mercian.org.uk or Jean Halsted jhalsted@mercian.org.uk or call 0121 3778899.