Norfolk emergency housing support can help with arrears
Norfolk residents who find themselves falling behind on rent and house payments can get relief thanks to established programmes that serve vulnerable populations. Anyone at risk of becoming homeless, as well as any people who are already counted as homeless may gain access to valuable services that can restore safe housing for the household.
Local residents who are threatened with eviction do not have to face the situation alone. Powerful actions may still be taken to ensure that the household is able to remain together under the same roof.
Residents of Great Yarmouth are directly served by six collaborative agencies that assist with emergency housing needs. The rest of Norfolk is served by these agencies plus many others that all fall under the Stonham Homestay umbrella with one exception. Julian Housing Support still offers separate emergency housing support services.
Norfolk County Council
The Family Fund grant is available to parents who are caring for a special needs child and find themselves temporarily unable to pay rent. This gift can cover immediate household needs and does not ever have to be repaid. The Family Fund provides necessary rental assistance when an emergency causes a budget deficit. Council can assist with the screening process as well as application for available financial support.
Income support is currently available to those whose income has dropped below £16,000 annually. Council can also help residents apply for housing benefit if it is necessary to make rent affordable. Of course Universal Credit will eventually be the primary means for support, especially for tenants who receive multiple benefits.
Older persons may get assistive care through Housing with Care. This innovative programme enables people to continue to live in their own private home even once they need help with personal tasks. When someone cannot afford rent plus all of the care options necessary to live independently, Housing with Care can provide supplemental support to enable them to remain in their own rented home.
Anyone who desires to receive help with rent may call Norfolk County Council at 0344 800 8020.
Heart and Home Supported Lodgings
One programme supported by The Benjamin Foundation provides emergency housing to young people across Norfolk. The Heart and Home Supported Lodgings service relies on host families that agree to take in a young person who is homeless.
Rent is free to the client. The Benjamin Foundation actually provides support payments directly to families who agree to host a young person through the programme. Interested parties in Norfolk may call 01692 502154 for more information.
Stonham Homestay
The primary intake for Norfolk residents whose housing arrears are threatening homelessness is Stonham Homestay. This is not just one agency. It is a central gateway where households are matched with the care providers to best meet their needs.
Some programmes specialise in treatment for substance abuse whenever it is interfering with the ability to keep up with rent payments. Rental assistance schemes focus more on helping families stick to a budget and increase income. Job training classes can be paired with other aid to improve the chances of success. Here are just some of the ways that clients are able to benefit from housing support.
- Help with budgeting
- Debt advice
- Benefit screening
- Assistance with applying for benefits
- Representation in legal matters (housing related)
- Employment training
- Transition assistance for moving to new home (including utilities)
One of the primary reasons tenants contact Stonham Homestay is due to rental arrears or mortgage problems. Many of these households are worried that they will run out of time to catch up on the arrears before the landlords or housing associations evict them.
It can be confusing when solicitors tempt tenants who are late on rent with high interest loans or other dubious solutions. The advantage to Stonham Homestay is that clients have a single entry point to obtain the services they need to address their housing woes. There is no need to fear for hidden agendas.
Even with the diverse set of aid programmes administered by this collaborative approach, there may be specific situations that may require a referral to an outside aid organisation. This could be to assist with complex money advice issues or to apply for grant funding needed by an individual household. In these situations the client may be provided with the proper referral to ensure that they get what they need in order to avoid homelessness.
How to get help
Clients who live in the Norfolk districts of Breckland, Broadland, King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, North Norfolk, Norwich and South Norfolk may call 0845 155 0390 to speak with a representative. The representative will initiate the process of housing support and ensure that no family is forced to become homeless.
Anytime a person feels threatened by the prospect of eviction or homelessness, they should initiate a request for rent support right away. Some aid is available in an emergency while other programmes may deal with longer term hardship cases. Certain cases may be managed separately by Julian Housing Support.
Housing advice is also available at the Norfolk Housing Aid Centre in Norwich. Residents may call 0344 515 1860 to book an appointment with a specialist.
Residents may call 0344 800 8014 for the Community Services office through Norfolk County Council.
YMCA
The YMCA provides emergency accommodation for young people who are temporarily homeless. The Norfolk Nightstop Plus provides up to five overnight stays for young adults while helping to locate a permanent home. The programme relies on volunteer host families to provide actual sleeping accommodations rather than utilising a homeless shelter. Information is available by calling the Coordinator at 07436 107530.
YMCA operates the Supported Lodging Scheme which recruits lodging providers to partner with the organisation. This partnership increases the available accommodations that may be used to house young homeless persons, especially during times of elevated demand.
Localised support
Residents may also seek aid directly through their local council.
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