We have launched a new campaign called #LiveWestMakingADifference to show the role housing associations play in supporting people.
The campaign aims to highlight how housing associations are providing life-changing help and support for customers.
We have introduced a number of support measures during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Our campaign will tell the stories of how people have been able to thrive in the face of adversity.
It is designed to show the steps taken by the housing provider’s colleagues and customers in order to improve lives – from helping people get on the property ladder to supporting customers into employment, giving grants to the most vulnerable and using technology to support customers.
James Reseigh, our Director of Neighbourhoods, said: “We are so proud to be working with some amazing community heroes and groups.
“We want to shine a light on the fantastic work that is being done by both our colleagues and customers across our communities. These are difficult times, but so much is being achieved by people pulling together.”
We manage more than 38,000 homes across the South West and has over 80,000 customers.
As a housing provider rooted in its communities and demonstrating a strong social purpose, we have been quick to respond to the two government lockdowns.
Since March our teams have joined together to make more than 12,000 welfare calls to ensures our vulnerable customers are safe and well.
The calls help to establish its customers’ situations, deal with any queries and refer them to an appropriate team for more specialist advice.
As a result of the calls to our vulnerable customers, around 20% have been signposting to community or other support.
And our colleagues have been able to provide help and support in areas such as food and medicine provision and wellbeing as well as providing financial guidance and access to local agencies.
We have donated £23,000 to help food banks across the region and support people who are struggling to afford food.
Sue Beer, Treasurer for one of the largest food banks in the UK, the Northern Devon, said: “LiveWest gave us a fantastic donation as soon as we went into the first lockdown which was gratefully received.
“The speed in which LiveWest acted says a great deal about them as an organisation. It really is fantastic to know that a housing association cares so much about its customers.
“We are indebted to LiveWest and all of the other organisations who have helped us during these challenging times.”
Sarah Gainsbury, Organiser and Treasurer of Holsworthy Foodbank, added: “We were delighted to receive the generous donation from LiveWest. We were really pleased to realise how much they appreciated us.
“In particular we were touched by their immediate response to the crisis.
“It meant that we did not have to worry about whether or not we would manage at a time when we had no idea what the demand would be.”
With lockdown putting a strain on people’s finances, we have stepped in to help customers in crisis by issuing crisis and hardship grants to more than 1,000 households, totaling more than £200,000.
The aim of the emergency grants is to provide support for people who are in a crisis situation or struggling.
It could be the result of increased living costs, one off costs, or a change in employment as well as support for customers who need IT equipment to stay in touch with friends and family.
Eight-year-old Katie Stafford, from Totnes, who shielded through the first lockdown because she suffers with cystic fibrosis, struggled to access any learning materials when schools were forced to close.
But Katie’s mum, Sarah, applied for a grant for some technology support and, within two weeks, her love of learning was reignited thanks to the delivery of a new laptop.
Sarah said: “I was amazed and thrilled. I had no idea that my housing association would do something like this for me.
“It was a lovely gesture of kindness and I am so thankful.”
Lisa Baxter, one of our Grants Officers, said: “I feel privileged to work for an organisation who supports their customers in this way.
“We have received some lovely messages of thanks from those who have received a grant and to hear what a difference this has made to people’s lives makes all the difference.”
As well as continuing to offer crisis and hardship grants, we have expanded its grants programme to offer financial support for organisations and community groups providing help for its neighbourhoods.
We were quick to answer the government’s call to help the homeless by partnering with local authorities and preparing some of its vacant homes for the most vulnerable people in society.
James Reseigh said: “We naturally have a turnover of our homes and these are now being used to provide secure housing for those most in need.
“It is extremely rewarding to know we are playing our part in helping people through these unprecedented times and it demonstrates our social purpose.”
Elsewhere we have launched a new virtual viewings platform for customers interested in buying a shared ownership or open market home.
It means interested buyers can get a guided tour of a home without actually stepping foot in the property.
Jamie Thomas, of Exeter, was the first to pilot the virtual viewings service and reserved a shared ownership home in Cranbrook without visiting the property.
The aviation recruitment consultant said: “Without the virtual viewing, I would probably still be looking for a house now.”