Tenant Newsletter July 2020

Return to Stage 3 Stay at Home Restrictions

As you would be aware, Melbourne is back on Stage 3 Stay at Home restrictions. These restrictions mean that you should only leave home for four reasons:

• Shopping for food and supplies
• Care and care giving
• Exercise
• Study and work – if you can’t do it from home.

Keep yourself and your family safe by following the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations, including:

• Washing your hands, or putting on alcohol-based hand sanitizer, regularly
• Covering your mouth and nose with your elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze
• Try not to touch your eyes, nose and mouth
• Keep at least a 1.5 metre distance between yourself others

To protect yourself and the community, please get tested if you have any symptoms or if you’re asked to. If you or anyone in your family are diagnosed with COVID-19, please let us know immediately so we can protect staff, other tenants and the broader community.

If you require maintenance urgently, please call Karina on 0407 082 261 or Lara on 0488 111 504 and we will find a trades person who can come and who is able to take the necessary precautions. For example they will need to wear a mask and maintain a 1.5 metre distance from everyone in the house. For the next six weeks it will be difficult to do any maintenance except urgent maintenance.

From all of us at WPI, please stay home whenever possible and stay safe during this difficult time. Please call us if we can help you with anything.

Urgent maintenance includes:

• A burst water service
• A blocked or broken toilet
• A serious roof leak
• A gas leak
• A dangerous electrical fault
• Flooding or serious flood damage
• Serious storm or fire damage
• A failure or breakdown of any essential service or appliance provided for water, hot water, cooking, heating or doing laundry
• A failure or breakdown in any appliance or fitting supplied by the landlord that will result in a large amount of water being wasted
• A failure or breakdown of the gas, electricity or water supply
• A serious fault in a lift or staircase
• Any fault or damage that makes the premises unsafe or not secure

How to get in touch with WPI

Our office is still closed, but we are still open for business, with all our staff working remotely! This is how you get in touch with us at the moment:

•  For property and tenancy issues please call Karina on 0407 082 261 or Lara on 0488 111 504
• For urgent after hours maintenance only call Valley Maintenance on      1800 088 106
• For anything else you can email admin@wpi.org.au When you email tell us your name and where you live.
• We can still get letters in the mail and receive emails.

 Please tell us if you are diagnosed with COVID-19

It’s really important that you let us know if you are diagnosed with COVID-19, or if anyone in your household has had contact with someone who has. Please tell us as soon as you can!

Support during Isolation

There’s lots of different support services out there to help you get through this difficult time. Here’s some of the most useful:

Safe Steps

If you or anyone you know is dealing with domestic violence you can call, text or webchat with Safe Steps. They can provide information, undertake risk assessments, safety planning and provide emergency accommodation to keep women, children and young people safe from family violence.Their services are anonymous and available to anyone experiencing or afraid of family violence regardless of age, gender, sexuality or gender identity. Call: 1800 015 188

WIRE

The Women’s Information and Referral Exchange (WIRE) team are proof that you can be physically distant but remain socially connected. They have support workers who are here to support you with whatever you are facing right now. They offer social inclusion and well being calls two days a week. They’re available via email support@wire.org.au, web chat at wire.org.au and phone 1300 134 130 on Monday to Friday from 9am – 5pm. 

No Interest Loans for Rent or Utility Bills

Household relief Loans without interest up to $3,000 towards rent and utilities. No interest, no fees, repaid over 24 months. Fill in a quick form here to start: https://householdrelief.org.au/.  If you don’t have the internet give WPI a call and we can fill it out for you.

$1500 for sick leave

If you miss out on work because you have COVID-19 or are caring for someone who has it you can get $1500 from the government. They’ll help you apply for the money while they’re doing contact tracing.

Centrelink Crisis Payment

If you have COVID-19 or are caring for someone who has it but you’re not working you can get an extra week’s Centrelink. Call your main payment line at Centrelink to see if you are eligible.

Groceries

If you are a senior or someone with a disability you can get your groceries delivered by Woolworths. You have to fill in a form on their website: https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/discover/priorityassistance?icmpid=sm-hp-ribbon2:priority-assistance

Victoria Government emergency relief packages

If you are self-isolating, you may be eligible for an emergency relief package. Each eligible household will receive a two-week supply of essential goods. The packages will be delivered door-to-door, with other distribution points to be established as required. Call: 1800 675 398

Bills

There are lots of discounts and rebates available on your electricity, gas and water bills, if you have a health care card. You can call the Concessions Information Line on 1800 658 521 to find out what you’re eligible for, or just call your electricity, gas and water companies and give them your health care card number.

Emergency Relief in Darebin

The Emergency Relief service is available for residents of the City of Darebin.  Proof of residence will be required. If you need help, call the DIVRS phone service on 9480 8200, Monday – Thursday between 9.30am -12.30pm.

• Food parcels - available Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday- (Limited to one parcel per person per week)
• Fresh Food - available Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday  (Limit one fresh food parcel per person per week)
• Bread - available Tuesday and Thursday
• Telstra Vouchers
• Phone Cards
• Assistance with Utility Relief Grant

• Free childcare to families working in health or other essential services. Wyndham City is offering free childcare to families working in health or other essential services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The service will be offered at Hoppers Crossing. Up to 40 places available from Monday to Friday between 9am and 2pm. Children aged between six weeks and 5-years-old. Proof of employment (i.e. health workers card) must be shown. Call 24 hours in advance on 9749 3951 to make bookings.

  Essential Services:

• Doctors
• Nurses
• Other healthcare workers
• Pharmacy workers
• Banks
• Petrol Stations
• Supermarket workers
• Butchers, bakers, green grocers and other food vendors

Emergency Relief in Wyndham

Wyndham City Youth Services food bank service is available for people of all ages who are struggling and need assistance. Call 8734 1355 between 9am–5pm Monday to Friday to arrange a pick up. Alternatively, if you can get to the Youth Resource Centre 86 Derrimut Rd, Hoppers Crossing during 9am-5pm, there are limited staff who will be able to assist with some supplies.