Category

• Fully Validated Effective Local Practice

---

Poverty impact

• Mitigation

---

Poverty driver

• Provide benefit in-kind (experience)
• Increase income from benefits

---

Keywords

• Housing Debt
• Homelessness
• Rent arrears
• Financial support
• Housing

Aim

The Funds aim to assist those struggling with housing-related debt. It has two objectives:
• To reduce rent arrears where other means of support are not available.
• To build relationships between council workers and the public to offer advice of potential available support.

Summary

The Tenant Hardship Fund is offered specifically to those suffering with housing-related financial difficulties because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Homelessness Prevention Fund was a local extension of the Scottish Government funded Tenant Hardship Fund, which aimed to assist households and individuals who are at risk of homelessness due to housing-related debt. Both Funds aim to help these individuals by reducing rent arrears where other means of support are not available. Those who meet eligibility criteria are assisted by support workers who fill out the application on their behalf. A decision is then made by a multi-agency panel regarding each applicant’s suitability for the funding.

What difference does it make?

The project has allowed various individuals residing in Angus Council to sustain tenancies and to avoid homelessness. It also relieved stress and improved wellbeing as the project allowed tenants more breathing space with their finances.

Key take-aways

• Building positive relationships between support services and the public allows financial support to feel more accessible.
• Communication between partners allows projects to run more efficiently and to therefore have a greater impact.
• Supporting participants to fill out application forms makes support more accessible.

 

Organisations

Angus Council, Common Housing Register Partners, Housing Associations, Welfare Rights Team, Health and Social Care Partnership

Location

Angus Council Area (throughout)

The Tenant Hardship Fund started in October 2021, and The Homelessness Prevention Fund started in October 2022. (paused for re-structuring purposes between March 2023 and October 2023).

Contact