Housing Support Services and how to apply
You can ask for extra support to help you if:
• you have rent arrears of six weeks or more or;
• you need advice about a transfer or keeping your tenancy agreement.
together with one or more of the following reasons:
• you have just left care or are living alone for the first time.
• you have been bereaved.
• you have been a victim of crime.
• you live alone on a regeneration estate and need advice about moving.
• you are suffering or causing anti-social behaviour.
• you are suffering domestic violence.
• you are returning from hospital.
• you have a mental, physical or learning disability.
• you have a substance misuse problem.
• there are child protection issues.
Our support staff will meet you at home or at our offices to discuss what help you need.
This might be:
• help claiming benefits and budgeting.
• practical advice on day to day living tasks.
• support and assistance to comply with the tenancy agreement.
• help to find reasonably priced furniture.
• help to find out about social and leisure activities.
• advice and information about how to access counselling.
• advice on finding training or employment.
• help dealing with other agencies such as the benefits agency.
• support and information about moving.
If we can help you, one of our support staff will agree a support plan for you.
We will ask you to sign your support plan and give you a copy. We will do our best to offer you choices when making arrangements and check with you regularly that these are continuing to meet your needs.
Your support officer will contact you regularly and spend time with you according to the help you require.
What’s NOT included:
• health care.
• personal care such as bathing.
• help with cooking, cleaning, shopping or gardening.
• meals on wheels.
• repairs and housing management duties.
• counselling.
• form filling only.
How long the support lasts
This will depend on your situation. After six weeks we will review the arrangements to see how you are getting on. Our aim is to help you feel more confident in your home.
When we think you can manage independently, we will phase out our help gradually with your agreement. You will have a say in when this happens, but it is normally no more than six months.
You can apply for housing support by using the tear off slip or contact us using the details overleaf.
How to apply
You can phone 020 8080 6587 and ask to register for the Housing Support Service or email: bhsupport@barnethomes.org
If you prefer you can ask family or friends to contact us on your behalf or someone else who knows you well.
You can also use the tear off slip and post it to us using our freepost address. We will then contact you.
We will treat your enquiry in confidence. Please note that due to high demand there may be a waiting list for this service.
Who can refer you to this service with your consent:
• any Advice Agency.
• Tenants themselves.
• Barnet Homes’ staff members.
• Doctors.
• Health Visitors.
• Citizens Advice Bureau.
• Social Services.
• The Probation Service.
• The Police.
• Family and Friends.
