Herefordshire Housing helps young couple to have a great start to 2009

Published by jenp for Herefordshire Housing Ltd in Housing

A young Hereford couple and their new born baby are safe and secure in their first home, thanks to help and support from Herefordshire Housing.

Sam Coe and Zac Wall were expecting their first baby when they signed their first tenancy with Herefordshire Housing. Due to their situation, they were offered help from the housing association’s specialised support service to ensure that they could start out as a family in the best way possible.

Dot Phelps, Housing Support Advisor, has been working closely with Sam and Zac to help them settle in and sort out everything they needed to do with their tenancy and new born baby.

Dot was previously a Warden for Herefordshire Housing’s sheltered residents but recently the service underwent major changes meaning that Herefordshire Housing can now provide support to any resident who needs it to continue to live independently in their own home. This means that support can be offered to young people, as well as those who are elderly or disabled.

Sam and Zac are proof that the changes to this service are really benefitting those who need it. When Sam gave birth to baby Kenzie-Leigh the young couple were over the moon and he also has a special place in Dot’s heart too.

“I am so proud of them. Sam and Zac are caring for Kenzie brilliantly. In fact, they are doing so well that they amaze me - it’s like they have had him forever. They are managing their tenancy well and are a really happy couple. I help take the pressure off them coping on their own and they really like the fact that I am there to guide them through problems and issues that they otherwise wouldn’t know how to deal with.”

The Housing Support Advisors at Herefordshire Housing can provide real help and support to a whole range of people, whether young or elderly. Support includes help with food and nutrition, budget planning and money advice, shopping, keeping appointments, accessing employment / careers advice, physical health and healthcare and much, much more. The service is free to people who have a proven need for the service and is funded by the Supporting People programme.