A routine estate inspection by Saffron Housing's Neighbourhood Team has led to vital support being put in place for a tenant facing significant health challenges.
During a recent inspection, Neighbourhood Officers identified an overgrown garden containing abandoned furniture and reached out to tenant Maria* to see how they could help.
What began as a conversation about her garden quickly revealed far more. What we discovered was, in fact, a story that prompted us to put support in place, making a positive impact on Maria’s life.
Maria opened up to us during our first conversation with her. She was currently in poor health, undergoing treatment for cancer for the second time in 2 years, following the return of the disease. She was struggling physically and emotionally. She became tearful, stating how embarrassed she was with the state of her garden. Living alone and without family close by, Maria felt very much alone.
Following discussions with Maria, we worked with her to put a comprehensive package of support in place, including:
- Informing her neighbours, with her consent, so they could offer practical help and support, including assistance with bin collections.
- Securing funding through Saffron's grant scheme to clear the garden and remove unwanted furniture.
- Contacting a local community group that provides free transport to hospital appointments.
- Signposting Maria to Saffron's tenant support and wellbeing service.
- Increasing visits from her Neighbourhood Officer to help ensure she can access the support available until her health improves.
Jennifer Loades-Hoye, Operations Manager, said: " This is a really positive outcome for the tenant and demonstrates the value of our estate inspections and the importance of having officers visible and active within our communities.”
The story highlights how estate inspections can provide opportunities to identify tenants who may turn out to need additional support and ensure they are connected to the right services at the right time.
*Name changed to protect the tenant's identity.