Four Housing assistance for tenants in Durham

Dozens of tenants and vulnerable residents in Durham receive assistance from Four Housing. The organisation provides a number of services to families and individuals on a low income as well as the vulnerable, and the financial team from the not-for-profit provides free guidance and advice on benefits and schemes in the area.

Information on many different services are provided, ranging from money management to referrals to home repairs, deposit guarantees and advocacy on welfare reform. What is in highest demand in Durham is the support from the specialist team on addressing housing needs, and this is provided to homeless and people facing evictions as well.

With the reduction in housing and welfare benefits, more people are in rent arrears in Durham and others from the county are now homeless, so the demand for advice on these problems has been increasing. The team can address these problems.

Services provided by Four Housing

The charity can help with the applications to housing benefits or provide referrals to local charities that offer programmes. This is also an option for the homeless, as there are charities and council schemes they can apply to as well for rent deposit help and other support.

The not-for-profit also partners with other agencies in the area, including councils, on the discretionary housing payment programme and other services, such as bond guarantees. The volunteers from Four Housing offer many possible solutions to the low income.

No matter what the person is applying for, the team can assist throughout the process. Specialists will review applications, provide information on the correct post to send it too, and offer other support.

If a tenant has been refused financial aid, then the organization will also help appeal those decisions. This includes those that have been denied from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), or maybe a resident needs help in applying for a rent deposit scheme from a local council. Too many people, including those in poverty, are facing challenges by reductions in welfare or changes such as the bedroom tax, and the financial team from Four Housing works to assist these residents on appeals.

The advice is also available for families impacted by the Universal Credit. Advisors from Four Housing will help clients manage and budget their money based on the benefit payments they have received, and the not-for-profit will help ensure that funds are available so they can continue to pay the rent on time as well as other housing expenses they have, such as winter fuel bills. These changes are difficult to plan for, so many people need help with them.

The team offers free financial advice on whatever challenge is being faced, with a focus on homeless prevention and applying for housing benefits. The advice will help people receive the benefits they need and help them maintain their tenancy. Other support from Four Housing is on income maximisation, job placement, and addressing debt arrears. They also partner with Citizens Advice Bureau as well as local councils on coordinating assistance. For more information or to make an appointment, call their office at 0300 00 44 444.