Tackling homelessness together

Prevention is better than cure

The Housing Options Team is working towards a more proactive approach to homelessness, by preventing it from occurring in the first place.
This includes working in partnership with other organisations such as GPs and NHS hospitals, mental health teams and acute units, voluntary organisations, the Prison Service, the Youth Offending team and the Police, as well as working with tenants and residents on the Homelessness Service Improvement Group.
Extra staff are also provided by other organisations to support the Housing Options Team, bringing their staff numbers up to 23.
"Negotiating with relatives or friends to prevent a homelessness claim can be a challenge, but it is rewarding if it works out," says Harry, a housing options officer.
Katherine, his colleague, agrees: "You can also get a positive result in preventing homelessness through mediation with landlords, such as negotiating rent arrears payments."

"Don't pretend that it is not happening and leave it until the last minute to seek help... We can't help if we don't know there is a problem."

Hull City Council may be able to

• act on your behalf and mediate with your landlord, family or friends to help to resolve your situation
• provide you with information about independent organisations or charities who may be able to offer you debt advice, mediation or counselling services
• give you advice on how to avoid your home being repossessed or prevent an eviction
• help you to find out whether you are claiming all the benefits you are entitled to
• check that you are not being illegally evicted or harassed Unfortunately, many people who are facing homelessness do not always seek help when they most need it.

"My advice to anyone facing homelessness is don't pretend that it's not happening and leave it until the last minute to seek help," says Tina, from the Temporary Accommodation team.
"Contact your landlord, the Housing Service or an independent advice agency such as the Community Legal Advice Centre.
We can't help if we don't know there is a problem." If you think you are homeless, or are at risk of becoming homeless, you should contact the Housing Options Team on 300300.

Myth: "Homeless people are alcoholic, drug users who are sleeping rough in shop doorways. They are wasters who have brought it on themselves."

Reality: Homelessness can happen to anyone. There are many reasons why someone could find themselves homeless – money problems, family breakdown, illness, redundancy or leaving the armed forces.

Myth: "The council has to provide a roof over your head if you claim you are homeless."

Reality: There is an expectation that the council can and will provide housing for everyone, regardless of their situation. However, the law is very specific about what constitutes homelessness and not everyone fits into this category.

The staff perspective

"I want to make sure everyone who comes through the doors gets the right advice and help," says Pete, a housing options officer with the team based at Kenworthy House.
"Everybody deserves a chance in life and a roof over their head." Not having a permanent address doesn't necessarily mean a person is officially classed as homeless.
housing options officers have to gather information and work within government legislation to identify whether customers:

• are eligible for assistance
• are homeless or threatened with homelessness
• are in priority need
• have become homeless unintentionally
• have a local connection

"We have a caseworker approach which means that if you come in to see us you will be given a named contact and their direct phone number," continues Pete.
"This means we can establish better rapport with our customers, and you don't have to keep explaining your situation to different people.
"The hardest part of the job comes if I have to explain to someone that they are not classed as homeless under the law," Pete explains.
"But we can still offer them advice about the other options open to them and where they can go for further support." The demand for council housing is very high.
For every available property there are approximately 54 applicants applying for it and this figure rises considerably when properties are in high demand areas.
For this reason the Housing Options Team also works with customers to explore all the other options available, which could include private rented accommodation, housing associations, supported accommodation or hostels.
As Pete explains: "We want to help people to find the best housing option for them – whether that means staying with relatives until a more permanent solution is available or moving into private rented accommodation with financial assistance.
"We also provide advice to help people to sustain a permanent tenancy when they take it on, so that they will not face a similar situation again."

Temporary solutions

When families or individuals are classed as homeless, the Housing Options Team looks at every option to prevent them having to go into temporary accommodation.
As well as being an expensive option for the Housing Service, temporary accommodation in hostels or bed and breakfast should only be considered as a last resort.
As Ms L*, who was living in temporary accommodation, explains: "Although the managers of the B&B are very helpful, you only have one room to share, so there is no privacy and settling the children at night is very hard.
You cannot cook any meals and have to share bathroom and toilet facilities.
I only went there because I had absolutely nowhere else to go."

The customer's perspective "I came in to the Housing Service to get some advice because the hostel I was living in served me notice," says Michelle (pictured right). "It was a scary situation – as a customer you don't understand how the process works and you are frightened that you could get kicked out of your home. "All you can see is that you have to be out of your home on a certain day and even when you are reassured that the council is helping to resolve the situation you still think it might happen." Eventually Michelle was able to find a new home, with support from the Housing Service. After finding her new home, Michelle joined a training scheme at ITEC and, in an ironic twist of fate, was offered a Modern Apprentice opportunity with the council's Housing Options Team. Michelle now works with homeless people, providing advice and support. Her own experience helps her in this role. "I can see it from the customer's perspective," says Michelle. "People don't want to ask for help or ask questions in case they look stupid so I try to explain everything in simple terms. After all, without my support worker I wouldn't have known what to do."

Tenants' Forum AGM Held at the end of September, the Tenants' Forum Annual General Meeting (AGM) saw members review their successes and achievements over the last year and elect a new forum chair. In her closing report, Penny Rodmell, chair of the forum for 2007/08, said: "Over the last year, I feel the progress made is there for all to see. As a group, we are constantly developing and growing in confidence and I'm sure we are more than ready for next year's challenges." Members voted in Betty Peck as tenants' forum chair for 2008/09, Helen Jessop as vice-chair, Enid Savill as secretary and Linda Mihkelson as vice-secretary. The next scheduled meeting of the Tenants' Forum is on Thursday November 27 from 1.30 - 4.30pm. New members are always welcome. Please call 300300 to book your place now.

tenant news in brief

TARA notice board Acorn's anti-bullying event Acorn Residents' Association is holding an anti-bullying event on Wednesday November 19, 1pm – 4.30pm, as part of Anti-Bullying Awareness week. Invited organisations will offer information and advice to visitors and will talk over any bullying issues you might have. For more information, contact Andrea on 859357, email acornresidents@aol.co.uk or call in at Acorn's community house on Greenwood Avenue. Did you know...? You can report damaged footpaths and pavements, potholes and missing manhole covers to 300300.