Samaritans Tenancy Resource Service
About Us
Funded by Housing NSW, Tenant Participation Resource Services provide advice and advocacy to Social Housing Tenants (Housing NSW, Department of Aboriginal Housing and tenants of Community Housing Providers). The program is a Housing NSW initiative to “provide social housing tenants with increased access to information, advice and opportunities to more actively participate in processes related to their housing, as well as to engage in their communities”. The Samaritans Tenancy Resource Services is the TPRS for the Hunter and Central Coast regions of NSW covering from Murrirundi, East to Port Stephens and South to the Hawkesbury River.
Aims
- Social Housing tenants are engaged in communities
- Social Housing tenants needs and priorities are identified and considered in planning and service delivery.
- Social Housing tenants are informed about their rights and responsibilities and are supported with their housing needs.
- Social housing tenants have skills and resources to participate in community life
- Social Housing tenants receive services that are coordinated, flexible and responsive to their needs.
What do we do
- Provide Information and advice about social housing and other Government and community related issues and services.
- Offer Support and Training for tenants and tenant groups, targeted at promoting community development and ‘participation’.
- Provide Referral to Government and other community based services/organisations.
- Provide Advocacy for local tenant groups and/or individuals regarding housing and other related issues.
- Establish Opportunities for tenants to become involved in tenant participation and decision making processes.
Tenant Groups
There are many tenant groups currently operating in the Hunter Central Coast area. These are groups of Social Housing Tenants who:
- Meet to discuss issues affecting tenants
- Meet to talk to Housing NSW staff about these issues
- Hold social functions to help tenants get to know each other
- Conduct special projects to make their area a better place to live e.g. working bees, fundraising for community resources, producing a newsletter about local activities and services.
- Attend combined tenant meetings to ensure that the needs of their community and social housing tenants as a whole are being met.
If you would like to get involved in a Tenant Group in your area, would like to start up your own tenant group and/or are part of a tenant group that needs some assistance, then contact the Samaritans Tenancy Resource Service for more information and access to resources.
Contact Us
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
Samaritans Tenancy Resource Service
Senior Worker: Bronwyn McIntosh
Toll Free: 1800 786 466
Fax: 02 4993 3460
Email: bmcintosh@samaritans.org.au
Postal Address: PO Box 876, CESSNOCK 2325
Click below for Service Feedback Information
Other useful links
Includes: Hunter Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service, Central Coast Advice and Advocacy Service, Aboriginal Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service.