Practical help for tenants - Discounts and loans

The Victorian Government has introduced a new initiative to help public housing tenants improve their quality of life through discounts for goods and services, and loans to help meet the cost of these items.

There a number of ways you can get help when you need to replace or purchase new household items such as fridges, washing machines, furniture or computers.

There are also concessions available for government funded training and further education courses.

Discounts on other goods and services are currently being explored. The Office of Housing will continue to provide you with further information.

Replacing or buying new household items

Good Shepherd Buying Service

The Good Shepherd Buying Service is a free statewide telephone service that helps people on low incomes buy new essential household items. These include fridges, washing machines, furniture and medical appliances.

The Office of Housing is funding Good Shepherd to expand the buying service so that all tenants will be able to access this service when needed.

How does it work?
The Buying Service has worked out discounts with a network of statewide and local traders. This means you may be able to get a discount of around twenty per cent on these items.

The buying service staff can tell you about warranties and which brands and models are energy and water efficient, to help save you money on your household bills.

Who is eligible?
Concession card holders

Contact
Good Shepherd Buying Service on (03) 9417 4666
Monday to Friday, 10.00am to 3.00pm

Home Wise appliance grants

Home Wise is a new Department of Human Services grant program to help low income Victorians in hardship replace fridges and washing machines.

This program was formerly known as the capital grants program, and has been extended. You can now get a grant more than once in your lifetime. You can also now get a grant for both your washing machine and fridge at the same time.

Who is eligible?

• You must have a pensioner concession or health care card.
• You must have an old washing machine or fridge that has broken down within the last 12 months or is not working properly.
• You must still have the old item at home.
• You must not have received an appliance or capital grant in the past 5 years.
• You must show that you don't have enough savings to buy a new one.

Contact
Department of Human Services Concessions Unit on 1800 658 521

Purchasing discounted desktop computers

WorkVentures Connect IT

WorkVentures is a not-for-profit Australia wide organisation that turns ex corporate and government PCs and equipment into affordable and reliable systems for low income people.

For example, you can get a computer from $250 plus delivery of $40.

What do they offer?
WorkVentures Connect IT has refurbished Pentium 4 desktop computers with an internal dial up modem and 25 hours free internet access, Microsoft XP Professional 2007, Microsoft Office Standard, anti virus software and internet explorer.

How does it work?
Contact WorkVentures Connect IT to discuss the different packages that are available. You will need to pay by money order, bank cheque, personal cheque or direct deposit.

WorkVentures has a purchase plan much like a store lay-by if you don't have the money up front.
Centrelink also has an Advance Loan option.

Who is eligible?
You must have a health care card, pension card, disability card, or some other form of documentation relating to low-income or disadvantage.

Contact
WorkVentures IT Connect on 1800 112 205

Green PC

GreenPC is an Infoxchange initiative that refurbishes ex corporate and government desktop computers into usable internet ready computers for low income people.

For example, you may be able to get a Pentium 3 desktop computer from $99 or a Pentium 4 desktop computer from $230. Delivery costs vary from $45 to $70 per item.

What do they offer?
GreenPC have a number of packages available. You can talk to them about what kind of computer would best suit your needs.

Who is eligible?
You must have a health care card, pension card, or some other form of documentation relating to low-income.

Contact
GreenPC on 1300 306 645

Loan schemes

No Interest Loans (NILS®)*

The No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS®) provides interest-free loans for individuals or families on low incomes to buy essential household items. These include fridges, washing machines, televisions, beds and clothes dryers.

NILS may also be able to help with other essential needs like health aids or education costs. NILS can't be used for emergency relief, bond or rent money, living expenses or debt repayment.

How does it work?
NILS is a community-based program that helps people get fair, safe and equitable credit to buy goods and services.

Who is eligible?
NILS has limited funds so you must have a health care card or pension card and be of genuinely low income. You must also have lived at your current address for more than six months in most cases.

How much can I borrow?
Loans vary, but are usually between $800 and $1,200. The repayment period is usually around 12 to 18 months.

Contact
To find out if there is a NILS service that covers the area that you live in visit the website: www.goodshepvic.org.au/microfinance

or

if you have a support provider ask them to assist you in accessing this service. NILS services rely on volunteers, so not all of them are open five days a week.

*NILS® is a registered trademark of Good Shepherd Youth and Family Services

stepUP (low interest loans)

Good Shepherd together with the National Australia Bank have a low interest personal loan called stepUP for the purchase of items such as furniture, computers and second hand motor vehicles.

Who is eligible?
You must either have a Health Care Card or get Family Tax benefit Part A. You must not be able to use other financial services, and you must have lived at your current address for more than six months.

How much can I borrow?
Loans vary from $800 to $3,000. Interest is fixed for the term of the loan. Repayments are flexible. There are no fees or charges with this loan.

stepUP Loans are available through the following offices. For more information:

Contact
Good Shepherd on:
Melbourne  (03) 8412 7317
Western Suburbs  (03) 9364 5230
Mornington Peninsula  (03) 5979 8199

Progress Loans

The Brotherhood of St Laurence and the ANZ Bank have a loan for people on low incomes to borrow money to pay for whitegoods and other items such as computers and motor vehicles.

Who is eligible?
You must either have a health care or pension card and you must have lived at your current address for more than six months.

You must be able to make regular repayments.

How much can I borrow?

• Loans vary from $500 and $3,000.
• Interest is fixed for the term of the loan.
• A one-off approval fee of $40 applies.

Loans are available through these Brotherhood offices.

Contact
The Brotherhood of St Laurence office:
Fitzroy  (03) 9483 1183
Craigieburn  (03) 9305 5100
Frankston  (03) 8781 5900 

Paying for training and further education courses

Fee concessions for government funded training and further education courses

The Victorian government funds TAFE institutes and other training and further education providers to give fee concessions to low income Victorians for many courses.
This could help you get some practical skills that could lead to employment or getting a better job.

What are the benefits?
Tuition fees depend on the program level or qualification level.

You may also receive a concession on the student services and amenities fee. This will vary between TAFE institutes and courses.

Who is eligible?
You must have a pensioner concession or health care card, or be a dependent spouse or child of a card holder. Veterans gold card holders are also eligible.  

Contact
Contact your local TAFE institute or training and further education provider for more information.

If you think it could be really hard to find the money for further education and training, providers may also be able to help with further assistance. Talk to your local provider for more information.

Public Tenant Employment Program

The Public Tenant Employment Program (PTEP) is a Department of Human Services - Housing program to create employment for public housing tenants.
 
In partnership with TAFE institutes and other registered training organisations, there are a number of subsidised vocational courses available in 2008 for people who live in public housing who have a health care card.

Some examples are Certificate 3 in aged care and certificate 4 in disability support.

Contact
For further information contact the Public Tenant Employment Program on (03) 9096 1274 or (03) 9096 5774

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