Assistance in Southampton from churches Rent Deposit Scheme

Churches and charities Southampton provide the homeless and individuals on a low income with rent deposit help. The assistance provided will be in the form of a bond guarantee, and the aim is to help families resettle into an affordable accommodation. The churches also help the homeless by providing a number of housing services, which include free advice, no interest loans, furniture vouchers, and help for rent in advance payments.

Volunteers from Southampton City and other towns in Hampshire partner with the churches to raise donations from the community. The District Council will also provide the charity with grants, and money also comes from central government funding. All these funds are used to by the churches to help applicants with paying the damage deposit or first month’s rent.

The bonds as well as other funds from the churches will meet a number of other bills that the tenant may need to pay for the accommodation. For landlords that participate in the scheme, the bond will be payment for the rent deposit and the churches may have funds for furniture for the new home or flat. Or if the family needs help with resettlement, loans can be provided for expenses to resettle or to use in securing the tenancy. The bond provided will cover up to 12 months of rent expenses. The churches do have limited funds, and the Board of Trustees of the charity will review each application.

Churches that are part of the scheme include Society of Friends, Tudor Trust, Methodist Circuit, St Edmund’s RC, the United Reformed Church and there are several others. They have all partnered with the charity over the last twenty years. There are other organisations across Hampshire that contribute charitable donations and the Southampton City Council has also provided grants to the scheme. While the organisation is a Christian charity, it helps people of all faiths. There is no discriminations based on disability, class, religion age, or marital status.

How to seek deposit help from a church

To apply, the Southampton Churches requires referrals and in some cases people can self-refer. Individuals with a local connection, over the age of 18, that are on a low income homeless need to contact the Southampton District Council and notify them they are seeking accommodations in the private rented sector.

After an interview with the churches, if an applicant is accepted into the scheme, the person needs to find their own affordable housing in the city area. The volunteers or specialists from the charity will inspect the property to ensure it is in good condition. The scheme can’t help people find accommodations, but specialists can provide free advice and answer any enquires that people have.

The landlord needs to agree to participate in the rent deposit bond scheme as well and this needs to be included in the tenancy agreement. It will safeguard their home against damage to it, and also address any rent arrears, so many private landlords do agree to participate in the scheme as it does benefit them as well. They also get to have a tenant in the property that is stable and will be paying the rent on time.

After an accommodation has been found and an agreement made, then social workers from the churches can also help the client apply for a housing benefit. Those applications can be fast tracked too, and the Southampton District Council also assists with this process. Any payments will be used to pay the rent and go direct to the landlord of the property.

To apply, the Southampton Council can refer an individual to the churches. Or people can call the centre at 023 8090 4529 or stop by the office. The address is in the St Andrew’s Church building at Avenue St Andrew’s URC, The Avenue (Opposite Northlands Road) in Southampton.