Section: Benefits & Grants
Funding Secured for Projects to Support HB Changes
Ten successful projects have secured a share of a £4 million fund to provide innovative support for the introduction of the proposed new Housing Benefit measures.
They will work with voluntary organisations, providing free advice to landlords and tenants, creating a digital service to match landlords with tenants, and providing digital support to hundreds of local authorities.
This current funding is part of a total of £190 million of extra financial help over the spending review period.
The 10 successful bidders are:
- Cambridge City Council - on behalf of the Northgate Benefits Product Group, will allow up to 168 local authorities across the UK highlight tenants who may be affected by the changes using special software.
- North London Housing Partnership - Led by the London Borough of Haringey with voluntary organisation Islington People’s Rights, two hubs in North London will provide monetary advice, support with rent negotiations and practical assistance to help households across six local authority areas.
- East London Housing Partnership - A new Social Lettings Agency will provide free services to landlords across eight local authorities in East London to avoid management costs and reduce rents, as well as support for tenants who may have to move.
- The London Borough of Lambeth - working in partnership with local voluntary groups, will launch a tenancy support service to target and support people who will be affected by the changes.
- The London Borough of Brent - will be working with the voluntary sector to provide advice for Housing Benefit claimants.
- Cardiff City Council - A website for all of Wales run by the Council will provide information and support for people affected by the changes to housing benefit.
- Kirklees Council - A new digital service which could help up to 50,000 households by matching landlords and tenants who want to rent at Local Housing Allowance rates across five local authority areas in West Yorkshire.
- Bristol City Council - A partnership between the Council, Bristol Credit Union, three neighbouring local authorities, the West of England Partnership and the National Landlords Association will establish services for landlords and tenants.
- Association of Greater Manchester Authorities - Tenants in 13 local authorities in the North West will be given help in negotiating rents as well as general money advice from the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities. Advice and support for landlords will also be provided.
- Edinburgh Council - A one-stop shop will be established with local voluntary groups to target those affected in Edinburgh.
Welfare Reform Has Hidden Implications for Social Housing
[Link2] No more five bedroom homes? The unintended impact of welfare reform.
Chloe Stothart's article in the Guardian Housing Network unfolds some of the less obvious consequences of the Welfare Reform Bill.
In addition to the implications for homelessness, it highlights how the Government's radical changes to Housing Benefit could have wider implications for the housing sector and how it organises itself.
The article considers how social landlords may need to adapt policy, the implications for housing provision - particularly for larger families, and the knock-on effects of displacing families from higher price rent areas.
