Enhanced Housing Options at Kettering

Enhanced Housing Options at Kettering

A new HomeMove service for under-occupying tenants

A new LifePlan programme to link our customers to training, educational and employment opportunities

An enhanced life skills training programme

An expanded housing options toolkit for people with mental health problems, young people and ex-offenders

HomeMove Providing practical and

financial support to tenants wishing to downsize

HomeMove was launched at the end of July 2009

Marketing and advertising campaign covering all Council tenants

Incentives are based on a points scheme Removals - 9 points Packing - 7 points Utilities – 1 point Mail – 1 point

HomeMove

At the end of September 53 tenants were registered (27 were as a result of a marketing letter sent to Council tenants)

Since 1 April 2009 – 8 tenants have been assisted to downsize

Our target is to assist 35 households per annum to downsize

LifePlan

Helping customers to overcome the barriers that prevent them from getting a job, starting training or volunteering

Open to Housing Options customers & Council tenants

LifePlan was launched at the end of July 2009

At the end of September, 29 people are registered and in regular contact with the LifePlan Advisor

LifePlan

LifePlan Interviews

Skills analysis and work experience

Motivational one-to-ones

Life skills courses

Writing CVs

Job Search and applying for jobs

Supported visits to partner agencies

Linking to health services

Family support

Enhancing our life skills training courses

Move On, Move In – life skills training for young homeless people and new tenants under the age of 25. 64 people have graduated

and only two failed tenanacies

Course 9 begins in October

New Opportunities, New Skills – life skills training for older, vulnerable tenants. Course 3 will begin in

October.

Working with RSL’s to deliver a tenancy training course for their new tenants

Expanding our housing options toolkit

More housing options and better outcomes for:

Ex-offenders

People with poor mental health and learning difficulties

Young people

Expanding our housing options toolkit

Expanding our housing options toolkit

It’s all about:

Communicating better

Understanding better

Procedures and referrals

More housing options

Improving the customer experience

More than just housing

Some Emerging Issues

HomeMove

Many tenants want to downsize but there’s a shortfall in the number of suitable properties

Joint working with housing associations to increase supply?

LifePlan

Need for lifeskills training specifically for gypsies and travellers

LifePlan Advisor gets drawn into wider tenancy sustainment issues

Supporting People funding for a new tenancy sustainment post?

Next steps

Communicating and understanding better - Running homelessness and housing options training for partner agencies including Citizens Advice Bureaux, Probation, HM Prison Service, Community Mental Health Team, Youth Offending Team, voluntary agencies, RSL’s

Procedures and referrals – New MAPPA procedures

More housing options – More housing options for young people including a supported lodgings scheme and supported accommodation for teenage parents

Improving the customer experience - Introducing personal action plans for Housing Options customers

More than just housing – Developing taster life skills training courses

Enhanced Housing Options at Kettering

Any Questions?