UNDER ONE ROOF - NEW LOOK, SAME VISION - Nehemiah UCHA
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Winter 2018/19
The newsletter for our residents
UNDER ONE ROOF
NEW LOOK,
SAME VISION
A new year is always a good time to
refresh and look ahead – especially
when there’s a big birthday coming up!
We celebrate our 30th anniversary in 2019. Set up
in 1989 to tackle the issue of poor housing for ethnic
minority communities in Birmingham, we take pride
in what we’ve achieved over the past three decades.
We’re also excited by our plans for the future.
So we felt it was an ideal time to update our name
from Nehemiah UCHA to Nehemiah Housing and
refresh our logo.
We think the result reflects our united, modern
approach. It also reinforces our core purpose
of providing affordable housing to diverse
communities we know and understand.
Having paid thanks to Jimmy Ogunshakin for his
notable time as our chairman, we’ve welcomed
Bishop Wilton Powell (pictured right) back into
the role.
“It’s made me very proud to be once again
involved with the association I helped to
establish,” he says. “The new brand identity truly
reflects all that Nehemiah Housing stands for. I
look forward to playing a vital role as we continue
to improve and develop.”
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SPARKLING BRIGHT RENT
Our home surroundings
have a big influence on
MATTERS
our sense of wellbeing. Now can be a costly time of the
So it’s important to us year – but don’t let it cost you your
to keep our properties home. Paying your rent as usual is a
modern and attractive by priority. Keeping up with payments
continually investing in a now will mean you can have a
programme of planned home happy and secure start to 2019.
improvements. You must pay your rent one week in
Nehemiah Court in Walsall is advance. This is a condition of your
the latest of our retirement tenancy agreement whether you
living schemes to benefit handle your rent payment yourself
from new accessible kitchens or it is paid directly.
fitted in all apartments. Always give priority to paying
Residents were given a choice your rent over other spending.
of colours in units, worktops The easiest way to do this is by
and flooring to really make it Direct Debit.
their own style. “Everyone is Persistent non-payers of their rent
thrilled with the results,” says can expect a tough response from
scheme manager Christine us. It means that if you refuse to pay
Hibbert. “Our contractor by ignoring our warning letters, calls
Novus built a good rapport and visits, we will go to court and
with residents to make sure you could lose your home.
the work was carried out If you are struggling to pay your
smoothly.” rent it is very important that you
The scheme is now gearing up for further changes, including the get in touch with us when you start
building of three brand-new apartments. The reception area will having difficulties. We will always
be moved to a better position, and the lounge and dining area help you and it will avoid making
remodelled. Other improvements include fitting a new lift, replacing the situation worse. We can also
some windows and redecorating all communal spaces. put you in touch with Birmingham
Over at Charles Pearson Court in Smethwick, all communal areas will Settlement for free and confidential
soon be completely redecorated and refurbished. The changes to debt advice.
refresh walls, flooring, lighting and furniture will create a bright new
interior design for the retirement scheme, making it an even better
place to live.
COULD YOU AFFORD IT?
No one expects to have a flood,
fire or burglary. But these things
can happen, and it’s devastating.
Over 5 million homes in England
are at risk of flooding, often
from flash-floods when rainfall
is so heavy the drains and rivers
can’t cope and overflow.
For example, a local storm in May
led to widespread flooding of
homes in parts of Birmingham, to the property. But you need
Walsall and Wolverhampton. to arrange your own home
Toxic water is contaminated contents insurance to have peace
by sewerage so everything of mind from being covered
affected has to be thrown out. if the worst ever happens.
Please remember your rent We recommend affordable
does not include insurance to insurance for tenants from
replace your belongings. We Aon Homesafe. Please ask
have buildings insurance to pay if you would like us to send
for the cost of repairing damage you an information pack.
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WONDER WOMAN
Busy mum of five Chantell Faure isn’t just focused on doing “It’s all about enhancing people’s lives
things for her family. As well as helping to improve their lives, and breaking down social barriers,”
she’s driven to transform the life of her local community in says Chantell. “Street violence, both
Balsall Heath, Birmingham. real and the fear of it, makes for a
Three years ago Chantell set up Unity Streets, a community tense atmosphere. Through the events
group which organises events, trips and workshops to benefit I organise with other volunteers, I try to
local families. Recently there’s been a street party and a inject more fun and aspiration into our
community fun day, as well as a MacMillan coffee morning, neighbourhood.”
veterans’ tea party and trips to Skegness and Blackpool. Chantell is a Heart of Gold local
community award winner and she has
just gained a training certificate from the
Social School of Entrepreneurs, which
helps people wanting to tackle society’s
biggest problems. She also participates
in our tenant involvement activities. So
what’s her message to others?
“If you have a vision, go for it,” she says.
“The more people who get involved the
better, because one person can’t make
those changes by themselves.”
Chantell is expecting a new baby in
the spring, so is taking a well-earned
breather. “But I’ll be back organising
the next event soon – probably a
trip to The Big Bang science fair. The
positive feedback, and especially the
reaction of the children, is what really
motivates me.”
EXTENDING
WELCOME
FAMILY THOUGHTS
Young parents gathered to give their views to
Wolverhampton Council at a meeting held at
one of our supported family housing schemes.
The council is consulting as part of its regular
review of the housing support it funds for young
people, so that
providers like us
can continue to
offer the right
A warm welcome to residents in Wolverhampton type of services.
who have just joined us as Nehemiah tenants.
The review
A total of 119 homes have transferred into our will also take
ownership and management from PA Housing. account of the
They comprise 26 properties at Shanti Niketan views of our
retirement scheme in Blakenhall and 93 family homes staff and other
in the city’s Whitmore Reans and Dunstall areas. organisations
“We look forward to getting to know you and involved.
helping you with any queries about your home “The support we
or tenancy,” says our housing services manager had while living
Pamela Farquharson. here really helped
“The extra homes represent a 10% increase in to set us up to
the number of homes we manage, emphasising succeed in life. It
our commitment to being a growing and leading gave us time to
social landlord in black and minority ethnic grow,” says young
(BAME) communities.” dad Chris.
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SAVE A LIFE
NHS Blood and Transplant is urging black people
to join the rising numbers saving lives in their
community by registering as blood and organ donors.
More people from black backgrounds are now giving
blood and donating their organs after they have
died. But there is still an urgent shortage of donors
to help black patients who need lifesaving or life
enhancing blood transfusions and organ transplants.
Research shows the main barrier to organ
donation among black and Asian people is the
belief that it is against a person’s culture or
religion. However, all major religions support
organ donation and transplantation.
Click here for organ donation web page
HERE TO HEAR YOU BUDGET
What we do affects
you and your
AND BENEFIT
community. So we An increasing number of our residents are affected
encourage residents by the single, monthly benefit Universal Credit
of all ages and (UC), which now operates in all our locations.
backgrounds to have
a say in how we You will need to budget carefully as your UC
deliver our services. payment needs to cover everything, including your
rent which is your responsibility to pay from your UC
Our 100 Club is ideal if you are short of time or
payment.
can’t commit to anything too far ahead. It offers a
chance to ‘pick and mix’, so when you join our 100 Your first UC payment is due five weeks after the
Club list we will get in touch from time to time on day you claim – but can take longer. If you received
the phone or by email for your quick yet important housing benefit and move onto UC you are entitled
views on something. to have your rent paid for two weeks during the wait
If you want to get more closely involved to really for your first payment. You should check and request
shape things, we have a great new Nehemiah tenant it promptly if it is not given automatically.
panel, known as NTP for short. This replaces our Unlike housing benefit, we do not receive details of
previous scrutiny panel to gain your views and ideas your UC. So if you have any problems you must keep
to influence how we perform as your landlord. us updated as we won’t know otherwise.
The next NTP meeting is on Wednesday 9 January
Contact your local Job Centre Plus for more advice
2019 at 6.30pm at McCalla House in Graiseley,
or call the UC Helpline on 0800 328 9344. You can
Wolverhampton. New members are warmly invited
also talk to your housing officer.
to come along. Please let us know by Friday 4
January if you’re interested, and if you need help A new hotline for benefits advice is available
with travel or childcare costs, by getting in touch to black and minority ethnic (BAME) women
with Jodie Ehiogu on 0121 358 0966 or email across the UK every Tuesday, 10am to 3pm,
Jodie.Ehiogu@nehemiah.co.uk on 0800 389 0405.
Please note that our office will be closed from Monday 24 December and will reopen on Wednesday
2 January. For emergency repairs during this time, please call the usual repair line number on
0800 849 1400 or 03030 30 1000 from a mobile.
You can view your rent statement online at any time by
Click here for My Account web page
registering to use My Account on our website.
Please let us know if you have any comments about this newsletter or
any news to share in the next spring 2019 issue.
Jodie Ehiogu Tel: 0121 358 0966
1-3 Beacon Court, Birmingham Road, Great Barr, Birmingham, B43 6NN
Click here to send us an email
Nehemiah Housing
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