The Government announced the winners of the first of two programmes of 'trailblazers', which could lead to advice on issues such as training, employment and childcare being offered to people when they discuss their housing options with their local authority.
The twelve trailblazers will offer a greater range of advice to people looking for housing, with some moving towards a 'one stop shop' approach of personalised advice and links to employment opportunities and training.
Currently people have to go to several different places to find the advice they need to make realistic decisions about where to live. The trailblazers intend to change this approach by providing advice on the full range of housing options from social housing to shared ownership to privately rented properties, linking this with wider employment-related advice to ensure that people are fully informed and able to make the right choice for their individual circumstances.
Speaking at the Focus E15, an East London foyer run by East Potential that provides support, training and accommodation to young people in housing need, Housing Minister Caroline Flint said:
"I've seen at first hand the real difference that can be made by giving young people access to both housing and employment advice and we want this opportunity to be available to everyone. These new trailblazers will do just that. They will be a stepping stone to independence, giving people the advice they need to find training and a job as well as a home."
Each of the trailblazers will get up to £350,000 to develop their housing advice services, making links to employment advice and other services in accordance with their locally identified needs. The funding will enable local authorities to create advice services tailored to the needs of their local area and local clients, away from the one size fits all approach.
To illustrate the flexibility available - one winner, Croydon, plans to link housing advice with learning and training services through a scheme called Broadening Horizons, bringing new skills and expertise to frontline housing staff. Two officers based in the central housing advice centre will go out and about in the community to provide advice and assistance to those in need.
Other trailblazers' plans include offering IT lessons and holding a weekly job club at the housing office, enabling people to learn about their housing options while brushing up on skills such as CV writing, interview skills and job search assistance.
The twelve trailblazers will also take on a mentoring role, sharing best practice and support with around 20 councils that will receive funding to kick start their own enhanced housing options schemes in 2009/2010.
The twelve local authority Trailblazer winners are Camden, Croydon, Greenwich, Hammersmith & Fulham, Southwark, Norwich, Nottingham, Kettering, Blackpool, Calderdale, Ashford and Bournemouth.
