Phyllis Abraham, chairperson of Edgarstown Residents Association in Portadown has been a Housing Executive tenant since she was 17.
Edgarstown Residents Association has been running for over two decades and Phyllis took up her post seven years ago.
Offering an after schools club, a drop in facility, Smile programme to support individuals living in Edgarstown and senior citizens group two mornings a week, as well as detached street work, the association works for all of the community.
Phyllis also helps deal with all sorts of enquiries for the Housing Executive and other statutory agencies.
She said; “The Housing Executive would be one of our best funders and they fund most projects in our area.
“Tenants would come to me with queries, especially elderly people and we have 11 on the committee and 25 volunteers and then associated members.
“In Edgarstown we would work with quite a lot of vulnerable people especially with the detached team. In addition, during the pandemic we served out over 10,000 meals.
“We delivered hot meals and activity packs for old and young and food hampers every week. I had an outdoor bingo, which was a great success and we done it three days a week in every area.
“We were well looked after during the pandemic which was mostly funded by the Housing Executive again.”
Phyllis is especially proud of the Smile Project that she runs in order to help the elderly.
She added; “It is close to my heart and started out to help the elderly and there was a need for support for people who didn’t have anyone, especially over Covid too we would have helped with shopping and collect prescriptions too.
“I was born and bred in Edgarstown, I would know many people around the area, and it took the Smile Project to show that there was people there to help them.”
Phyllis also sits on the Housing Executive’s Central and Regional Housing Board for South Region.
“I would say 10 years ago I couldn’t tell you what the Housing Executive did and my eyes have been opened since then and some of the things have amazed me.
“I hope the Housing Executive continues to run on for a lot longer because people are relieved to have social housing, especially in this area,” she added.
