The service providing trust, support, and stability
Believe Housing Australia tenant Marie’s* life is moving in a positive direction, thanks to the intervention and compassion of our Intensive Tenancy Support (ITS) team, who work to sustain tenancies.
Sometimes, life can be overwhelming, and we need some support to move forward – this is where our ITS team can help. This short to medium-term program aims to intervene early to improve the amenity and condition of tenants’ properties and assess factors that may be a barrier for a tenant to access support services.
The four-strong ITS team includes two officers who work specifically with First Nations tenants, providing culturally-sensitive support that considers their holistic needs and circumstances.
One tenant who has received this support was First Nations woman Marie.
When Marie first connected with ITS, she was navigating a challenging period in her life. Living with a chronic illness and family pressures, she found it increasingly difficult to maintain her tenancy and care for her health.
Recognising the impact this was having on her, Marie sought support and accepted a referral to ITS.
With Marie, Believe Housing Australia Intensive Tenancy Support Officer – Aboriginal Communities, Shannon, developed a case plan with strengths-based approaches for building capacity and self-efficacy.
This included practical tips for managing her home, relationships, and access to her community, helping her to reach her goals and maintain her tenancy.
Shannon said that because there were no quick fixes to addressing property conditions, developing and maintaining a relationship with the tenant built on trust was essential.
“It was overwhelming for Marie just starting with Believe Housing Australia, and it took some time for her to have trust in me and how ITS could help,” Shannon said.
“We built an honest, caring, and straightforward relationship. She is now safe and secure in her home and has extra support.”
To create a safe and healthy environment, Shannon worked with Marie to deep clean the property, organise additional skip bins to remove accumulated rubbish and debris, and arrange the safe removal and rehoming of cats living on the property.
Marie was also provided a cleaning pack with products and tools to help her continue to maintain hygiene and cleanliness standards for her property.
The ITS team also worked on improving the liveability of the property by undertaking repairs to walls, doors, windows, supplying new bed frames and mattresses, as well as funding and installing split system air conditioning to ensure comfort and wellbeing.
Each of these actions was taken with Marie’s wellbeing in mind, ensuring that her home could become a place of comfort and security.
With the property now clean and easier to maintain, Shannon and Marie then worked on organising referrals for long-term supports that could help with stabilisation, including to government and community service providers, as well as food relief organisations.
Marie said with the right support in place, she had made meaningful progress in sustaining her tenancy and prioritising her health.
“The ITS team has been a real support while I have been going through personal and family issues,” Marie said.
“Since being with Believe Housing Australia, everything has changed for the better.”
Our Intensive Tenancy Support team worked with 71 tenancies in 2025.
*Name changed to protect privacy.
