During a routine 8-month visit to one of our residents, I asked how he was settling into his new home:
He shared that, although he was grateful for his new home, he was feeling overwhelmed by the number of bills. And to make matters worse, his fridge-freezer had broken during the move. This had left him unable to store food properly as the fridge wasn’t cooling, and the freezer only got mildly cold.
He explained that he used to work full-time but due to illness he could no longer work, so replacing broken appliances felt financially impossible. He didn’t know how he was going to cope.
I reassured him that he wasn’t alone. This is exactly why our visits are so important – to check in, offer support, and remind residents that PA Housing is here to help. I told him about Lightning Reach, a platform that connects people to financial support and grants, and sent him the link.
He later mentioned that his washing machine had also stopped working, and he didn’t have a microwave either. He asked whether Lightning Reach might be able to help with all three appliances. I advised him to list all three, in priority order, as most funding schemes will try to support at least two items.
Last week I returned for a follow-up visit, and he was absolutely over the moon. With a big smile, he showed me his new fridge freezer, washing machine, and microwave, all of which had been provided through the support he accessed via Lightning Reach. He was so grateful – not just for the appliances, but for the support, empathy, and guidance.
A situation that once felt hopeless had completely turned around thanks to a simple platform, Lightning Reach, so I felt the need to spread the word and make more residents aware!
