Housing Options are getting ready for a busy New Year in the aftermath of the festive season when many people find themselves either threatened with homelessness or dealing with housing difficulties.
Staff at Swansea Council’s Housing Options shop on High Street are prepared to help people deal with housing problems because of reasons such as relationship breakdown, temporary accommodation running out or limited finances caused by the strain of Christmas spending.
Staff see a growth in demand for this type of service every year in the days and weeks that follow Christmas.
Households affected by redundancies and unemployment may also find it difficult to pay important bills and make rent or mortgage payments and are being urged to take immediate action and seek advice as soon as possible.
There are also likely to be further pressures on households in private rented housing as a result of the government’s welfare reforms.
Robin Millard, the Private Sector Prevention Officer, said: “Most households in Swansea will start to see their housing benefit payments reduced as a result of government cuts. Some will experience large reductions in their benefit which will inevitably mean they will lose their home if they do not seek help as soon as possible.”
This is why Housing Options is working closely with the Housing Benefit Department and is writing to all tenants affected by the cuts, advising them to contact Robin.
Robin can be reached via email on [email protected] or text on 07824 991399.
Housing Options can also give advice on issues such as the legal rights of a tenant and can negotiate with landlords and mortgage companies to try to keep people in their homes.
Other roles see the team give advice on how to access emergency and permanent accommodation and how to access support packages.
Andrew Vye, Swansea Council’s Community Housing Services Manager, said: “The Christmas period can put an enormous strain on relationships, families and finances which can result in people being asked to leave their accommodation.
“In our experience the earlier households contact us about a housing problem, the more we are able to do. I’d urge all households who are experiencing housing difficulties to take urgent action and seek advice as soon as possible.”
The staff at Housing Options will try to prevent homelessness whenever possible and, if appropriate, arrange for a planned move into more appropriate accommodation. They will negotiate with landlords and relatives and give a good idea of all of the housing options that are available.”
The Housing Options service also offers a money advice service that targets households who are at risk of repossession. Trained money advisers can try to prevent the loss of the home and will try and help households bring their finances back under control. Advisers can provide advice, support, practical assistance, advocacy and representation in court.
Housing Options is located at 17 High Street and can be contacted on 01792 533100.
Shelter Cymru’s 24-hour housing and benefits advice line is available on 0845 075 5005.
The call-out homelessness officer can be contacted out-of-hours on 01792 636000.
