The funding will support WSHA to expand the delivery of a comprehensive package of support, which includes food parcels, fuel and data top-ups, hot meals and wellbeing calls for tenants who are experiencing negative impacts as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

WSHA staff have been working from home since March 18 to ensure that service delivery is maintained for tenants and customers. The Association quickly recognised the impact that coronavirus would have on some of their most vulnerable tenants and expanded existing in-house services to cope with increased demand as well as developing new services such as a hot meal delivery to older tenants in sheltered housing and wellbeing calls.

Since March 23 until mid-April the support delivered includes:

• 1,101wellbeing telephone calls made to tenants over 65
• 2,634 wellbeing telephone calls made to 211 sheltered housing tenants
• In-house Welfare Rights Team has received 372 referrals or customer contact for support
• 359 hot cooked meals delivered to tenants in Sheltered Housing sites
• 149 referrals have been received for assistance with food/shopping
• 67 requests for fuel top ups

This support has been proved a lifeline for many such as Mary from Springburn in Glasgow, who commented: “I don’t hear from anyone else so I look forward to your call.”

The provision of food parcels has been essential for some tenants with one tenant, Mark from Glasgow, highlighting: “Thank you so much, didn’t think I would be as happy to see a packet of pasta.”

A WSHA tenant

Brian Gannon, chief executive of WSHA, said: “This funding from the Scottish Government is crucial to allow us to expand delivery of key support to ensure we can help some of our most vulnerable tenants during this extremely stressful and challenging time.

“This is a worldwide health crisis that has had a severe detrimental impact on many of our tenants with regards to income, isolation, restrictions on social contact and even the ability to buy food. Our staff have been working tirelessly since March to ensure that we are here for our tenants when they need us the most.”

Maisie O’Brien, community and support services manager at WSHA, added: “I would like to extend my thanks Scottish Government, Glasgow and West of Scotland Housing Forum and DTA Scotland for their support.

“This funding will enable us to sustain and extend essential support to our tenants and communities including those who are experiencing financial hardship, have an underlying health condition and families who are impacted by unemployment. Funding will ensure the provision of essential items such food/shopping, energy and phone top ups, hot meals and wellbeing support.”

A Glasgow and West of Scotland Housing Forum spokesperson said: “We are delighted to see so many of our members receive funding from the Scottish Government’s Supporting Communities Fund.

“The Fund recognises the crucial role of community anchor organisations in helping to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on individuals and communities. We know that the work that community controlled housing associations are doing, along with other partners, is crucial; and is providing real, tangible support where it’s needed most.”

• Read all of our articles relating to COVID-19 here.