Help us help those in need

We know the rental market is extremely challenging at the moment. It is even more so for prospective tenants who do not have an ideal rental history, regular employment or references, such as those who have experienced homelessness or family and domestic violence. 

I never lose sight of the fact that I could easily become homeless. A serious car accident, business failure, relationship breakdown, unemployment or bad health can change the direction of our lives. I’ve seen it happen within my wider family and it can happen to anyone. 

None of these things reflect a person’s ability to be a quality tenant, but it does mean they often need a helping hand to get their lives back on track. 

REIWA’s Community REInvest program works with various organisations – from the Salvation Army and Anglicare WA – to help vulnerable tenants move from crisis and transitional accommodation into a home in the private rental market. 

In 2022, 89 tenants completed our Tenancy Training program, which gives prospective tenants the resources and knowledge to navigate the tenancy process, boosting their confidence and increasing their chances of securing a rental. 

Participants also receive a ‘rental readiness’ certificate that they can include in their applications to agents.  

Joram is one of the graduates of the program.  

From the moment he entered The Beacon, The Salvation Army’s emergency accommodation centre in Western Australia, he worked hard to address the issues that had led him down a path of homelessness. 

With the support and advocacy of REIWA and Community REInvest agency, Rent Choice, Joram found a private rental. 

“This has meant the world to me. To finally secure stable accommodation is a huge sense of relief, but also the beginning of something new,” he said.  

“It has also given me the opportunity to find who I really am and what I really want in life.” 

Taking things a step further, and following the old proverb “if you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime”, we also work with case workers so they in turn can help more prospective tenants seek rentals with confidence. Last year 39 case workers undertook the Tenancy Training program. 

Many of our property managers work hard to find homes for vulnerable tenants, either through the Community REInvest Tenancy Training program or following direct requests for assistance from community groups and charitable organisations.  

They know how many applications from good people fail due to the inability to tick all the boxes in an online application. They find it very rewarding to be able to directly help those in need and I frequently see them go to extraordinary lengths to find people a home. 

But there is only so much we can do as an industry. We need your help. We need property owners who are willing to rent their home to a vulnerable tenant. It may mean charging a lower rent than you could otherwise get in the current market. It may mean taking on more risk. But it would also mean giving a helping hand up to someone looking for a better future. 

If you can help, please contact your REIWA property manager.