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Using loans or grants that are part of the Local Assistance Scheme, the city council in Sheffield will help the homeless or people facing eviction. There are funds provided to those that are struggling to come up with the money that a private housing landlord needs, and specialists from the council will provide other support as well, ranging from advice to tenant welcome packs. The main programmes that may be provided are as follows.

Funds can be provided by the council from one of these schemes or local welfare funds. The main ones are below, and the Sheffield City Council can provide more information on them.

PRS – Private Rented Solutions is when the council will help the homeless both find a new, affordable private rented accommodation and resettle into it. There are landlords in the county that work with the council on this, and the council can also assist them with a deposit too.

The Sheffield Local Assistance Loan Scheme provides money to pay for a portion of a rent in advance that may be due for a home. The council will make this determination and assessment of the applicant, and if they are not eligible, signposting may be provided to the Credit Union below.

Grants may be provided too. The source of the funding is the Local Assistance welfare fund, and these are limited and will prioritize a resident facing a safely or health risk. The funds from the council are also as a last resort, after the individual has applied to other charities in Sheffield or South Yorkshire County. These are for exceptional situations only.

Furniture and household items may be provided from the Local Assistance Scheme. This can be provided in the form of a voucher to a recycling centre or a local collection point in the city.

Other solutions for rent deposit payments

Nomad SmartRenting works with the city, and they can help families or individuals on a low income more into private rented homes, but it will be shared accommodations. This charity will only help people that are not in property need of housing and that are also under the age of 35.

While it won’t help with a rent deposit, the DHP – Discretionary Housing Payments is an option in a crisis if facing homelessness. This is a very limited programme though, and more for residents with an eviction notice.

Low interest loans for deposits – A city of Sheffield council backed and supported scheme can provide residents with access to funds at a much lower interest rate than other lenders. The APR will vary, but it is an option to consider. Families seeking a source of funds to pay a rent deposit on a new flat or more affordable home may be strong candidates for this programme, and find how the Sheffield Money service can help.

Some residents may not qualify for any of the schemes above, so an option may be borrowing money from the Sheffield Credit Union, and the city council offers referrals for this. They will offer a low interest rate loan that can be used for paying different types of bills, one of which is a deposit. Or the money can be used for other emergency expenses such as food or fuel arrears. The person borrowing money from the Credit Union will also need to open a savings account and enroll into budgeting and other workshops.

All of these programmes from the Sheffield City Council are limited, and offered as a last resort. People that need help should call upon other charities first, or drop in a church in South Yorkshire as they can often assist. Many of those centres also assist the homeless or individuals in poverty. As a last resort, the council housing office is at 1 Union Street in Sheffield, and people can call 0114 2053112.