The support highlights the association’s continued focus on tenancy sustainment, ensuring customers can access both financial assistance and practical advice during a challenging cost-of-living period.

A significant proportion of funding was secured through the work of the tenant sustainment team. Financial wellbeing advisors secured over £85,000 in fuel poverty gains, supporting tenants through a range of measures including Energy Advice Scotland (EAS)/Octopus payments, Fuel Bank Foundation vouchers, HACT vouchers, LEAP appliances, SCARF voucher codes, Pension Age Winter Heating Payments and Warm Home Discount applications. 

Home energy advisors secured £54,000, while delivering a wide range of interventions, including:

• Referrals for debt advice
• Prevention of energy disconnection and self-disconnection
• Reductions to energy debt recovery
• Energy efficiency and tariff savings
• Support with Energy Ombudsman and supplier complaints
• Access to hardship payments and funding streams
• Priority Services Register enrolment
• Smart meter and tariff advice

Tenancy support officers secured around £7,000, contributing to tenancy sustainment through the provision of 127 fuel vouchers to tenants.

Across the reporting period, the team provided tailored advice and direct intervention to support tenants in managing energy use, reducing costs and avoiding crisis situations.

Moreover, nearly 200 energy advice and group training sessions have been delivered with the support from our partner - the Citizens Advice Scotland. 

Kamila Feddek, financial wellbeing coordinator at WHA, would like to extend her thanks to the team and partner organisations — Energy Action Scotland and Octopus Energy, Citizens Advice Scotland, Fuel Bank Foundation, Scottish Power and LEAP — for their invaluable support. Their direct financial assistance has played a crucial role in tackling fuel poverty and supporting tenancy sustainment, while also helping to raise energy efficiency awareness.

A spokesperson for Williamsburgh Housing Association said: “This level of support reflects both the increasing demand for assistance and the proactive approach taken by our staff to ensure tenants receive the help they need.

“We remain committed to providing practical support that enables customers to sustain their tenancies and manage rising household costs.”