1.3
of the program model. A staff focus group with
team leaders, case management and other
support staff at WCC was also undertaken to
provide a detailed discussion on the
implementation of the project, the key needs
identified through service contact and also
suggestions for further model development. The
qualitative data were supplemented with service
activity information collected by the service and
client case studies provided by the support team.
A brief review and synthesis of the existing
evidence based literature on microfinance and
private rental support programs was also
undertaken.
Structure of the report
Following from this introduction the report will
review the emerging evidence base of
microfinance as a low risk alternative to pay day
lending and its application within the broader
package of private rental assistance. Next the key
concerns impacting upon private rental access
within the City of Whittlesea will be outlined. The
focus in sections 4 through to 6 then moves to
documenting the program model in practice and
the findings on its strengths, lessons learned and
the service impact at the time of the evaluation.
The report concludes with a discussion of the
directions and recommendations for the future
development of the program model.
2