Breckland rental assistance helps low income tenants

Several organisations and government agencies serve to assist Breckland tenants who are unable to cover rent costs on their own. Whether the shortfall is permanent or temporary, no local resident has to be homeless. There are options to get help.

Council assistance

Breckland District Council administers several schemes to assist homeless and soon-to-be homeless tenants with housing. Each strategy focuses on improving the lives of local residents as they struggle to overcome personal financial crises.

• Supporting People is a residential care programme that allows for sheltered housing to those who need additional treatment for additional problems. Services include mental health care, domestic violence refuges, helping elderly and disabled adults with home upgrades to ease mobility issues or disability and even working with those facing eviction to remain in their homes. Call 01603 729245 for the Norwich office which oversees Breckland residents.
• Young adults (Age 16+) can get immediate help with rent problems and homelessness through a separate housing advice programme. They can speak with a young person’s advisor by calling 01362 656870 (or 0808 168 4555 after hours) to get help with housing emergencies as well as to facilitate admission into an appropriate strategy to accommodate their needs.
• If the Breckland resident is still seeking other aid, then there are other charities that help the disabled by providing grants, rent assistance, and more.

Shelter

Aid is still available through Shelter, the UK’s national housing charity. A local office is not available, though you can get help through the nearby Norwich office by calling 0344 515 1860.

Citizens Advice Bureau

There are three local branches of the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) that can assist with the usual money management and advice services. What many people do not realise is that CAB does much more than provide advice.

An action plan could include valuable housing support through grants or other charity aid programmes. A specialist can even screen clients for housing benefit and other welfare schemes that could substantially improve the situation. Many aid workers fret that households will often struggle with difficult financial situations because they either do not realise that they qualify for benefit payments, or that they are too proud to apply. However, these payments are funded by taxes, and most applicants have already paid into the system.

Applications for benefit payments or grant awards can be forwarded by a CAB specialist on behalf of clients who meet in their offices for assistance. There are three CAB offices located in Breckland.

• Clients may call 08444 111 444 for Watton and District CAB in Thetford.
• The same number (08444 111 444) may be used for an appointment with Mid Norfolk CAB in Dereham.
• Mobile users may call 0300 330 0650 for the Norfolk CAB in Attleborough.

Sheltered and Supported Housing

Rent problems might be a sign that a person needs more care than they currently can receive in their own home. Housing support often means taking advantage of the system built to serve specific needs.

• Single adults may apply for vacant flats in Thetford through the Granta Housing Society (call 01223 576756) or the shared accommodation, hostels and flats offered by St Matthew Housing (call 01284 732550) in Attleborough, Dereham and Thetford.
• Young people aged 16-24 may live in shared flats at Walmington Court in Thetford. Host families also offer a room for rent through the YMCA Supported Lodgings Scheme. For housing emergencies, young people can be matched with a host family offering up to five nights emergency stay through the YMCA Nightstop Scheme. Interested clients must be referred from a specialist with the Housing Options Team.
• Disabled adults may qualify for a flat in Thetford. Call 020 7452 2000 for Livability mobility.
• Older adults may get support through Anchor Trust flats in Attleborough (call 0845 140 2020), Thetford flats through Hanover Housing Association (call 01480 475069), Housing 21 bungalows and flats in Mattishall, Swaffham and Thetford (call 0370 192 4000), or through traditional council housing which is administered by Flagship Housing Group (call 0808 168 4555).