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All residents of West Kent that are either struggling to stay in their current home or that need help in locating new housing can contact the Lifeways service. The team from the agency will meet with the client and try to provide them some form of solution to their hardship.

Lifeways will focus on several different needs. There is supportive housing for individuals with a disability as well a crisis team that works with tenants that are threatened with homelessness. The agency will rather the tenant maintain their current tenancy agreement above all else. Advice on financial matters is provided by the Personal Budget scheme and they offer assistance to the vulnerable as well. More information on these services are below.

Temporary housing is arranged in partnership with the Sevenoaks District Council. While the homeless can use this service, it is really focused at people that are threatened with an eviction. Lifeways will try to get them into this short term housing so that they are not homeless at all, and individuals can ring 01732 227000 for more information.

Low income families in West Kent that are in rent arrears can use the crisis team. This group is also focused on keeping people in their current home and not even place them into the temporary housing above. The team will help the client apply for benefits to pay down the arrears. They will also offer free budgeting advice, tips on maximizing income, and more.

Various programmes are explored by this group. Some tenants in arrears are behind due to lack of a job, so employment barriers are addressed. Others are struggling due to increasing fuel costs, so the organisation will help the family explore all of the electric bill and fuel programmes available. Other crisis team support will be form filling or referrals.

Help in maintaining tenancies is also provide by Floating Support. Call 01732 749451. This Lifeways service will help the client with acquiring Life Skills. If someone is struggling with some aspects of their life, whether it is financial or another challenge, a key worker from the organisation will meet with the individual to find a solution. A support plan will be created as part of this programme.

Supported Accommodations are for people in West Kent with a mental illness or disability. There are a couple main housing sites used for this, and they include Mill Road, Hawley Dunton Green, and Miadstone Mental Health.

These schemes involve a number of rooms for clients. They will be able to live their for either months or years, in the case of Dunton Green. While staying at the Supported Accommodations the client will be able to benefit from counselling from a medical professional or other social worker. This will give their condition the attention it needs.

Other advice from Lifeways

The organisation will offer other help to the client on any number of issues. Many people from West Kent need further housing assistance, in addition to what is above. In these cases, the team will advise the client about their entitlements and help them apply for other benefits if needed.

Other advice is given on debt arrears. If the person is struggling to pay their bills on time, then the Lifeways team will help them manage their debts and household finances. A major part of this will be advice on creating and following a budget.

If Lifeways can’t assist, then the team will refer the client to other statutory organisations. This can range from council schemes to welfare. No matter what the need is, call the agency at 01732 749451 or 01732 749452.