Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) has appointed its first Welfare Rights Officer. Craig Samuel has joined the Association on a 14 month secondment from the City of Edinburgh Council’s Advice Shop.
Responsible for helping with the take-up of welfare state benefits and representation with tribunal work up to and including upper tier level, Craig will be on hand to offer expert guidance to PoLHA’s 3,500 tenants.
He said: I’m delighted to have joined PoLHA and the fact I was born in Leith made it an easy decision to take up this great opportunity to offer my help and to ensure PoLHA is well represented with our voice being heard within local government.”
Craig’s appointment has lead to the creation of PoLHA’s Welfare Rights Service, strengthening the Association’s existing advice services for help in managing debt, affordable warmth advice to help with fuel debt and advice and support to maintain tenancies.
Keith Anderson, Chief Executive of PoLHA, said: “Craig’s role and the creation of an additional service will greatly benefit our tenants at a time which is set to impact on them significantly.”