Better Help For Vulnerable Camden Residents

17 January 2006

Camden Council has announced that Community Housing Group will run revamped support services to help prevent vulnerable Camden residents from losing their home.

The £1.6 million a year service announced at the last Executive Committee meeting (11 January 2005) will for the first time provide Camden-wide services to help around 600 single people, couples, and families deal with problems that could cause them to lose their home. Help includes assistance to overcome minor physical disabilities, health or mental health problems; giving people the skills they need to live independently, such as teaching budgeting skills; and helping people deal with problems related to drink or drug abuse.

The service will also help people with their finances and budget setting skills, preventing them getting into debt or behind with bills or rent and helping people apply for benefits or grants. It also hopes to ensure people can access education, training and job opportunities.

Cllr Julian Fulbrook, Camden Council’s Executive Member for Housing, said: “I’d like to congratulate Community Housing Group on winning the contract to run this new service. From helping young people to leave care, live independently and settle into a new home, to supporting people recovering from alcohol or drug dependency to remain in a stable home while they rebuild their lives, the service will provide a lifeline to many vulnerable residents in Camden.”

Community Housing Group, chosen from a shortlist of four bidders out of seven initial applicants, came top for quality and cost of running the service. The housing organisation is an independent charitable foundation that manages over 3,500 homes across London and provides training and support services.

Kevin Beirne, Community Housing Group’s Director of Housing Care and Support, said: “We are delighted to have this opportunity to further our well established partnership with Camden and push back the boundaries of innovation and quality in delivering a top class housing support service across the borough.”

The new service, called the Generic Floating Support Service, is funded through the Government’s Supporting People programme. The revamp follows a borough-wide review of existing housing related support services that were being provided by health, housing, social services and voluntary sector agencies.

The new service is due to start on 20 March 2006. There will be a two-week cross over period with existing services to ensure that Camden residents currently receiving help continue to be get the help they need to keep them in their home.

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