A little help goes a long way, says Mattapoisett resident Roberta Tripp.

Last month, Tripp became president of a newly formed tenants' association for the town’s senior housing complex Village Court.

The association was formed under the Mattapoisett Housing Authority last month.

Hoping to get the residents’ issues heard and a number of problems resolved, Tripp said the new association would work to best serve the seniors.

“We were experiencing difficulties here in terms of maintenance and general repairs. We decided to form a real tenants' association to keep everything on the up and up, and to help the tenants,” Tripp said.

Tripp said her idea to form the association began last summer following a dispute between the tenants and management over the glass sliding doors inside the homes.

Citing a mold problem, the management team bolted the doors shut causing outrage among the residents.

The bolts have since been removed, but Tripp said the issue opened her eyes to the problems in the housing complex.

The problems include a poor ventilation system, which Tripp said has caused temperatures to exceed nearly 100 degrees in the complex.

Tripp said she is also working towards having receipts made out to residents once they have paid their rent.

The management team can be late in cashing the rent checks, which upsets some residents, she said.

“I suggested that people get a rent receipt that the manager can sign and date,” Tripp said.

“If the checks are deposited late, it can screw up balancing your checkbook.  They should be deposited in a timely manner.”

Since its formation, the association has already had success in one of its endeavors.

When one resident’s buzzer broke, Tripp said the association submitted forms to the manager and the problem was fixed the next day.

“We’re really and truly not trying to start trouble,” she said.

“We just want things to be done fairly. With the association, we feel like we can make a difference and we’re going to try. We want to work together with management, the state and other senior housing groups.”

To get the word out, Tripp and the other seven members of the association will hold a meet and greet on July 9 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

“This will be great to get all of the tenants to socialize with each other a little more than they have been,” she said.

Tripp said she would provide information on tenants' rights, building codes, as well as building complaint forms.

If a tenant has an issue, Tripp said she would show them how to fill out the forms and see that the problem is resolved in a timely manner.

Tripp has also reached out to Fire Chief Andrew Murray, who will discuss fire safety with tenants on July 11 at 2 p.m.

“It’s good to have a refresher course in protecting ourselves and our neighbors,” Tripp said.

“Everybody should know their rights,” she said.

“We’re hoping that by having an association we can meet with other senior tenants' associations and talk to each other. We’re all in it together.”