Hillcrest provides support to tenants with Cost of Living and Rent Consultation Roadshow

Hillcrest has recently undertaken a ‘Cost of Living’ roadshow. Its teams visited tenants in several towns across Scotland to find out how the crisis is impacting on them.

Its ‘Hillcrest Advice Bus’ travelled to Montrose, Brechin, Forfar, Crieff, Comrie and Glenrothes. Colleagues from our Tenant Participation, Housing, Energy Advice, Income Management and Tenancy Sustainment teams offered a range of valuable advice and support. As part of the roadshow, the teams knocked on over 600 doors and chatted to tenants to understand how they were adapting to these difficult times offering help and advice and onward referral as required.

As well as receiving advice, tenants were offered ‘soup bags’ and recipes on how to make a tasty winter warmer soup. Free SIM cards were also provided to anyone who needed data so they can keep connected over the winter months.

In Edinburgh, tenants at Hunters Hall were treated to a festive get together.  Staff and tenants also had the chance to discuss issues around costs of living, and the opportunity to express their views on the rent consultation. Hillcrest also reached out to some of its tenants in Aberdeen and Dundee by phone, to check in and offer some much-welcomed help and advice.

Fiona Morrison, Deputy Chief Executive, said: “It’s a challenging time for many households in Scotland, and we are keen to provide our tenants with as much support as possible to help them through this cost of living crisis. Our teams are on hand to offer key advice around reducing energy bills, maximising benefits, and other types of social support on offer, which many people can be unaware of.”

It has produced an informative video on how its teams can help Hillcrest tenants through the cost of living crisis which you can view here.

If you are a Hillcrest tenant, and would like further support or advice, you can call the customer service number Tel: 0300 123 2640.