Going Places Newsletter Summer 2011

Supporting familiestowards a brighter future

Going PlacesIssue 15: - Summer 2011

Homechoice, Housing Options, Temporary Accommodation and Resettlement newsletter

Welcome...…to the summer 2011 issue of the Going Places newsletter. This newsletter is for all customers and partners of the Housing Need and Support Service, including Homechoice, Housing Options, Resettlement and Temporary Accommodation. We hope you enjoy reading this newsletter. If you have any comments or suggestions for articles in the future, please contact us via the details on page 2.

Shared Ownershipproperties pages 23

Changing lives in Stockport See page 11 for more information.

homechoiceProviding rented homes throughout Stockport

2 Going Places - Issue 15 Summer 2011 www.stockporthomes.org

0161 474 4237

0161 477 2626

0161 474 4567

0161 474 2975

0161 474 3772

0161 456 0717

0161 217 6015

0845 608 8526

0161 474 3093

0870 120 4040

0161 477 9597

0845 303 0900

0845 790 9090

0161 217 6009

0845 46 47

0161 249 4080

0161 480 7248

0161 426 9101

0161 636 7525

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Housing Options

Housing Options(out-of-hours)

Homechoice bidding line

Homechoice enquiries line

Resettlement Team

Furniture Station

Housing Benefit

Job Centre Plus

Welfare Rights

Citizens Advice Bureau

Stockport Victim Support

Victim Support Line

Samaritans

Stockport Advice

NHS Direct

Alcohol and Drugs Service

Disability Stockport

Stockport RefugeeSupport Group

Greater ManchesterDomestic Abuse helpline

Homechoice: Bidding advert

Prospects information

Local Standards

Customer approved

Credit Union

Is your home too large for you?

Volunteering

Act Family - Changing lives in Stockport

H3 get moving

Seasonal fun at Brindale House

Transforming temporary accommodation

Pre-Tenancy Officer

Occupational Therapist

Save money on gas and electric

You said, we did

Homelessness quiz

Pinpoint express advert

Facts and figures

Shared ownership

Free Football eventfor 8-14 year olds

Contents Useful numbers

Opening hours for the Housing Information Centre

Monday: 8.30am - 4.30pm

Tuesday: 9.30am - 4.30pm

Wednesday: 8.30am - 4.30pm

Thursday: 8.30am - 4.30pm

Friday: 9.30am - 4.00pm

www.stockporthomes.org

Homechoice newsUseful numbers homechoiceProviding rented homes throughout Stockport

Properties will be advertised from Wednesday morning and bidding will close at 5pm the following Tuesday.

Details of properties are available on www.stockporthomes.org by clicking on ‘Search for a home’ and customers can make bids online. New weekly property lists have replaced the adverts in the Stockport Express and Stockport Times. These include more information for customers and are available at Stockport Homes’ Area Housing Offices, Advice Centres and libraries and throughout the Borough.

homechoiceProviding rented homes throughout Stockport

S T O C K P O RTIMPORTANTCHANGES

From 4 May 2011 Homechoice are advertising available properties weekly

You can bid for properties by:

logging on to our website www.stockporthomes.org and clicking on ‘Search for a home’;

calling our 24-hour bidding line on 0161 474 4567;

texting 07797 806630; or

visiting the Housing Information Centre or one of our Area Housing Offices.

To make bids you will need your:

application reference number, date of birth and the bidding numbers of the properties you are interested in.

If you do not have access to the internet and will have difficulty getting a property list or if you have difficulty placing bids (for example, if you are elderly or have a disability) please contact the Homechoice Support Assistant on:

1234504/05/197025252

0161 218 1088

Don’t bury your head, and don’t let worries about your finances affect your housing.

If you need to discuss your current housing situation or look at other options available, contact the Housing Options Team now on:

Telephone: 0161 474 4237 or email: [email protected]

Useful Contacts:

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)Face-to-face interviews are available at:

• Cheadle CAB, Cheadle library (10.00am - 3.30pm)• Marple CAB, Hollins House (10.00am - 3.30pm)• Stockport CAB, Fred Perry House, (9.30am - 1.00pm)

Advice is also available by calling the CAB on 0844 826 9800 (2.00pm - 7.00pm)

Over 3,000 households in Stockport could see their benefit reduced from £5 to £30 or more each week

Your Housing Benefit is changing!

Act now. Visit: and click on Newswww.bit.ly/housingbenefit

It is important you act now to plan how you will manage these changes; visit the Housing Benefit ‘News’ web pages on Stockport Council’s website now.

Examples:

For demonstration purposes only

3

Important changes

4 Going Places - Issue 15 Summer 2011 www.stockporthomes.orgwww.stockporthomes.org

homechoiceProviding rented homes throughout StockportHomechoice information

Prospects informationHomechoice operates a Choice Based Lettings Scheme.

This means that vacant properties are advertised on our website, at the Housing Information Centre, the Area Housing Offices and libraries and advice centres throughout the Borough and customers need to bid (using the points awarded to their application) for suitable properties in order to be rehoused.

There is a very high demand for social housing in Stockport and only a limited number of vacancies come up each year. Properties are offered to customers with the greatest priority for housing and unfortunately this means there are many applicants who are not successful with their bids.

The table below shows the huge demand for accommodation and may be useful when you are deciding what properties to bid for:

Number of customers / households registered for each property size in March 2011

Number of properties advertised and number of bids received by property type 2010/11

Property size

Number of customers

Percentage

1 bedroom 4,348 51%

2 bedroom 2,990 35%

3 bedroom 966 11%

4 bedroom 137 2%

5 bedroom 12 less than 1%

6 bedroom 1 less than 1%

Total 8,454 100%

TypeNumber of properties advertised

Number of bids received

Average bids per property

0 Bedroom Studio 53 1,047 201 Bedroom Bungalow 39 783 201 Bedroom Flat 259 7,048 271 Bedroom House 1 90 901 Bedroom Multi-Storey Flat

194 4,195 22

2 Bedroom Flat 108 3,742 352 Bedroom House 104 9,865 952 Bedroom Maisonette

25 1,239 50

2 Bedroom Multi-Storey Flat

100 1,767 18

3 Bedroom Flat 1 16 163 Bedroom House 128 4,623 363 Bedroom Maisonette

11 158 14


21 205 10

4 Bedroom House 4 66 17Total 1,048 34,844 470

www.stockporthomes.org 5www.stockporthomes.org Going Places - Issue 15 Summer 2011www.stockporthomes.org

Homechoice information homechoiceProviding rented homes throughout Stockport

Prospects information As you can see two bedroom properties, especially houses receive a lot of bids in comparison to other types and sizes of property.

The table below shows the average number of points that different types of properties are let for. Again, you may find this useful when deciding what properties to bid for. Please note: these are averages so some properties will go for more or less points, and the location / area can make a difference. Areas where there are fewer properties or lower turnover are generally in higher demand and so are let at higher points levels.

Average points for properties let 2010/11

Type Average points

0 Bedroom Studio 32

1 Bedroom Bungalow 23

1 Bedroom Flat 29

1 Bedroom House 50

1 Bedroom Multi-Storey Flat 35

2 Bedroom Flat 41

2 Bedroom House 53

2 Bedroom Maisonette 45


3 Bedroom Flat 25

3 Bedroom House 42

3 Bedroom Maisonette 41


4 Bedroom House 40

TypeNumber of properties advertised

Number of bids received

Average bids per property

0 Bedroom Studio 53 1,047 201 Bedroom Bungalow 39 783 201 Bedroom Flat 259 7,048 271 Bedroom House 1 90 901 Bedroom Multi-Storey Flat

194 4,195 22

2 Bedroom Flat 108 3,742 352 Bedroom House 104 9,865 952 Bedroom Maisonette

25 1,239 50


100 1,767 18

3 Bedroom Flat 1 16 163 Bedroom House 128 4,623 363 Bedroom Maisonette

11 158 14


21 205 10

4 Bedroom House 4 66 17Total 1,048 34,844 470

For more information, please contact the Homechoice Team on 0161 474 2975 or email [email protected]

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• Brinnington is the ‘one to watch’ and one bed

multi-storey flats offer a great opportunity to set up your own first home.

• Two bedroom houses

are in very high demand, considering a two bedroom flat will probably increase the prospects of rehousing.

• Turnover for family type properties is slower and so availability is limited, therefore people are increasingly considering renting privately. Privately rented accommodation is spread more widely across the whole of Stockport.

Top Tips for finding a home:


Update

Local Standards

Rehousing Services information

The Local Standard Target

1 We will provide comprehensive housing advice literature which is regularly reviewed and updated through customer consultation.

100% of literature reviewed with customers

2 We will offer advice interviews or home visits where required, to discuss your Homechoice application and housing options within five working days of the request.

100% of appointments within five working days

3 We will send you a follow-up advice letter within three working days of your Homechoice and housing options advice interview.

100% of letters sent within three working days

4 We will provide help and advice in accessing work and training opportunities to improve the range of housing options available to you on request within 10 working days.

100% of customers contacted within 10 days of request for assistance

5 We will provide fast track interviews on the same day for customers who are immediately homeless and visits to notified rough sleepers will be undertaken within 24 hours.

100% of visits within 24 hours

6 You will be seen by a member of the Homechoice Team or another staff member within five minutes at the Housing Information Centre.

100% seen within five minutes

7 We will process housing application forms and medical assessments within 10 working days.

100% within 10 working days

8 We will offer the option of additional support to help you to bid for properties in all cases.

100% of customers requesting help assisted

From April 2011 Rehousing Services (Homechoice, Housing Options and Temporary Accommodation) have introduced new Local Standards following consultation with you, our customers, to find out what you consider important.

These standards state what services we will provide and what you can expect from the service.

We started using the new standards on the 1 April, and are delighted to report that all applications we received in that month were processed within an average of less than 3 days (actually 2.75 days!)

Here are details of our new standards which we will report back on in this newsletter and on the website so that you can hold the service accountable:

For more information, please contact the Homechoice Team on

0161 474 2975 or email [email protected]

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Housing Options news

Customer approved!Customers help improve the service(and give homeless letters the thumbs up)

As part of the Housing Options Team’s commitment to work with customers to constantly improve services we asked Stockport Homes’ Readers Group to check through the wording of our homeless decision letters to see if:

• they felt there was anything missing; • there were any improvements they thought

could be made;• the letter was easy to read;• they understood what the letter was saying;

and• they thought the letter was customer friendly.

The Housing Options Team writes legal homeless letters on behalf of Stockport Council where a customer comes to speak to a member of the team and there is a belief they are homeless or could be at risk of becoming homeless in the near future.

Homelessness legislation is very complicated and not always positive but we aim to ensure customers fully understand what, if any, duties are owed to them because of their current situation. For instance, this could be being given advice about the options available and how they can help themselves, being provided with temporary accommodation or even being rehoused.

98% of customers that we asked thought that the letters we used were easy to read, with 100% of customers saying they understood what the letter was saying.

Customers also explained what they would like to see different about the homeless letters including showing important information in bold type and even more useful contact numbers for customers which have now been included.

i If you have received a letter from the Housing Options Team and

are unclear about what it says or feel that you could do with some advice about your current housing situation please visit the website at www.stockporthomes.org, contact the team on 0161 474 4237 or drop into the Housing Information Centre, 1 St. Peter’s Square, Stockport SK1 1NZ.


Doorstep Lender:

Borrowed: £300

Paid back (with interest): £546

Stockport Credit Union:

Borrowed: £300

Paid back (with interest): £318.48

Total saved = £227.52


Save securelyor borrow affordably!A Stockport Credit Union Collection Point is opening at the Housing Information Centre.

Every Thursday morning 10am – 11am volunteers from the Credit Union will be available to help customers set up accounts, bank savings and apply for affordable loans.

With Stockport Credit Union you get easy and flexible ways to save, access to low cost loans as well as free life insurance for members. Being with Stockport Credit Union is an ideal way to financially prepare for the unexpected and plan for the future – such as for a deposit for a privately rented property, or for furniture for your new home.

St. Peter’s SquareFletcher Street

Great Underbank

St. Petersgate

Head Office

NOW OPEN at St. Peter’s Square

Stockport Credit Union is regulated by the Financial Service Authority (FSA) so you can save as much and as regularly as you like safe in the knowledge that, just like with a bank, your money is safe and secure. What’s more, Stockport Credit Union offers low cost loans. This means that if you take out a loan from Stockport Credit Union it will cost you very little to repay it compared to if you had borrowed money from a doorstep lender or a high street creditor.

i For more information call Stockport Credit Union on 0161 430 5808, visit

www.stockportcu.com or email [email protected]



Is your home too large for you?Your housing benefit may be reduced from 2013 so we suggest planning ahead now.

From April 2013, the Government are reducing the amount of housing benefit for tenants in Council or Housing Association homes that are too big for them. This only affects people of working age, so if you are old enough to receive a state pension there is no need to worry.

This will have an impact for lot of Stockport Homes’ tenants, for example most single people or couples in two bedroom flats, or people in houses whose children have grown up and left home. Although 2013 sounds a long way off, it is important to think about how you will able to budget for this if you are going to be effected. If you think you are going to struggle to pay your rent, there are two main options available to you:

• Moving to a smaller home – Through Homechoice we give people in homes that are too large for them extra priority for a transfer. If you are moving from a house to a flat, we can also help financially through our ‘Down-Sizing Scheme’. The Homechoice Team can help with advice on seeking a move and are available on 0161 474 2975, or details are on Stockport Homes’ Website www.stockporthomes.org Moving to a smaller home may also reduce your heating and other bills, and be easier to manage than a larger property.

• Increasing your income

- If you are not working, but would like some help in finding employment, training schemes or voluntary work to improve your skills, then Stockport Homes can help. Our Employment Support Officer is available to help on 0161 474 2836 or by email at [email protected]

i If you have any concerns about how

you may be affected by this change or want to discuss your options, please contact Heidi Stewart, Housing Projects Officer on 0161 474 3762 or email [email protected]


VolunteeringMake a difference, improve your skills, meet people and have fun!

Trisha, Ged, Rach and Carly, Temporary Accommodation Volunteers

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Stockport Homes has a range of fantastic opportunities for people to gain skills, work experience and have a great time through volunteering.

With a wide range of activities there are opportunities for everyone, such as helping people who have become homeless through to one-off projects like improving the appearance of areas for our communities.

As well as doing something valuable and satisfying with your spare time, volunteering is a great way to build your CV if you are looking for work and is viewed really positively by employers.

Bryan’s Experience:

“ I decided to volunteer after meeting the Employment Support Officer at Stockport Homes. I help tidy and decorate at Brindale House and do gardening at Strathclyde. It gets me out of my flat and is a great way for me to keep active and more importantly enhance my CV for future job opportunities. ”

If you are interested in helping out, please

contact Martyn Preston, Employment Support and Volunteer Coordinator on 0161 474 2836 for further information, or email him at [email protected]


Act Family news

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This project works by giving families a dedicated worker to support them in making lifestyle changes, including increasing their aspirations, as well as having access to a team of specialists from the agencies above.

Act Family works in targeting support at the most ‘at risk’ families to prevent behaviour worsening and adversely affecting themselves and their community and will include outcomes such as increasing attendance at school, increasing employment, reducing reliance on services. Additionally, Act Family will provide families with a single point of contact to avoid them losing their way in what can be a complicated maze of services.

Support from Act Family will be targeted towards households living in Adswood and Bridgehall, Brinnington and Lancashire Hill who have multiple issues, including: • Anti-Social Behaviour;• repeatedly committing crimes;• children not attending or being expelled from

schools;• drug or alcohol problems; or• at risk of eviction.

This project is different from other schemes in that it looks at the needs of the whole family; Mum, Dad, Son, Daughter, Uncle, Grandma – anyone who is a key part or influence on the household.

If you want to learn more about Act Family, please contact Joanne

Claridge, Act Family Manager on 0161 474 3716 or email [email protected]

Supporting familiestowards a brighter future

Changing lives in StockportAct Family is a new, exciting and ground-breaking project that launched on 4 July 2011 in Stockport in partnership with a range of agencies such as Stockport Council, Police, Social Care, Health, Probation and Stockport Homes.

All families offered support will sign an agreement saying what they will do in return for this support and what goals are being focussed on. This includes a clear understanding of the consequences if success is not achieved.

Act Family will achieve value for money and influence development in the ways agencies work together in Stockport, reducing what can sometimes be overlapping support to the same families and improving co-ordination and outcomes, whilst also ensuring that no family member is left out.

11Going Places - Issue 15 Summer 2011www.stockporthomes.orgwww.stockporthomes.org


H3 news

H3 get movingIt’s been a busy year for H3 (Helping the Homeless into Housing), the constituted group of current and former residents from Stockport Homes’ Temporary Accommodation Schemes.

Helping the Homeless into Housing

In the last issue of ‘Going Places’ we reported that the group raised over £1,000 to supply ‘move on packs’ to homeless residents; thanks to this they have been able to buy over 100 sets of essential household items for those starting afresh in new homes. H3 was able to get new residents a free kettle, toaster, iron, cutlery and utensils and is committed to helping people get back on their feet and go on to not only help themselves, but help others too.

i For more information on H3, please contact the Customer Involvement

Team on 0161 474 2862 or email [email protected]

Back in February H3 had another major success, being nominated for, and then going on to win, the TPAS Northern Region Award for ‘Best Practice in Supporting People’. The TPAS Awards recognise excellence in tenant participation, and it was a proud day for the committee members attending the awards Wish them luck at the national finals in July.

Most recently H3 were successful in bidding for £1,000 from Red Nose Day’s ‘Community Cash’ fund, which they plan to spend on tailor-made training to continue to strengthen their skills and move on to greater things.

H3’s first Annual General Meeting (AGM), where committee members are nominated and elected was held in May, at which the committee was strengthened to 10 members. This year they hope to keep building their profile and membership, and look towards charitable status towards the end of 2011. Watch this space!


Temporary Accommodation news

Seasonal fun at Brindale HouseThis Easter a party took place at Brindale, open to all children in Brindale, living locally or from the Brinnington Early Years Holiday Club.

Lots of party games took place, including ‘pass the egg’ and skittles, and there was face painting, food, music and arts and crafts – including some really creative bunnies!

The Easter Bunny herself came along to hand out eggs to the children, kindly donated by Stockport Homes’ contractor Jackson Lloyd.

Work has recently been completed at Strathclyde House and the Buxton Road Centre to create two new rooms for homeless residents. With homelessness on the increase these rooms will provide a valuable and much needed temporary home to those most in need.

Additionally at Strathclyde House, following consultation with residents a new meeting space is being built. This will provide a new, welcoming and private environment for homeless women to meet with support workers, as well as somewhere for residents to come together and share activities throughout the summer months.

Transforming temporary accommodation

Looking back at Christmas, families were able to enjoy another celebration, including a visit from Santa Claus for the children. Presents were donated once again by contractors, and Stockport Homes’ staff via a special ‘drop box’ placed in St. Peter’s Square.

This year the scheme was also festively decorated with a number of Christmas trees, thanks to Easy Access Self Storage, who donated the trees for free.

Azhar Baz (Scheme Manager) at Strathclyde House


Resettlement news

Pre-Tenancy OfficerIt can be exciting but daunting to get the keys to your new home – and then be overwhelmed with questions and concerns about the practicalities of moving in!

I don’t understand my tenancy agreement, I have no furniture, Who decorates? Where do I pay my rent? How do I set up my new utility bills? Where are the schools and colleges? These are a lot of questions for just one meeting, and there is a lot to remember! How much easier to have looked into all this in the run up to signing for your new home…

The exciting new post of Pre-Tenancy Officer will soon be up and running! This new Officer will run ‘Pre-Tenancy Workshops’ throughout Stockport at various easily accessible venues – like First House in Brinnington, the Bridgehall Centre and local libraries.

• budgeting; • healthy eating on a budget;• health and wellbeing;• health and safety in the home;• reporting repairs – who is responsible for what;• different methods of rent payment;• applying for Housing Benefit;• what do I do if I miss a rent payment?;• setting up and paying utility bills;• furniture and removals;• being a good neighbour; • gardening and decorating;• local facilities – leisure, health centres, public

transport links;• resettlement and Tenancy Support; and• want to become a tenant representative?

Opportunities to train and facilitate workshops yourself!

These workshops will provide a real opportunity for new tenants to learn about their new tenancy and to be confident in knowing where to go for advice and assistance if needed. And there will be a chance to make a real difference to your community by training as a tenant facilitator and sharing your knowledge with others!

Focus on

For more information on Pre-Tenancy training, please contact the

Keir Taylor on 0161 474 3772 or email [email protected]

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These workshops will give prospective Stockport Homes’ tenants an insight into what it means to have your own home! From signing a tenancy agreement and understanding “who does what” – what are your rights as a tenant?... what are your responsibilities?... what does the landlord do? …to workshops including:

• rights and responsibilities – understanding your tenancy agreement;

• visitors;


Resettlement news

Occupational TherapistMy name is Sue Griffin and I’ve been here since August last year.

It’s an exciting and challenging role as I am the first Occupational Therapist employed directly by Stockport Homes. My role is varied and no two days are ever the same (and there never seems to be enough hours in the day!).

I work closely with the occupational therapists in Adult Social Care and Childrens’ Services. My speciality is housing, so my role is to assess adults and children in their own environment with a view to maximising independence and reducing risk. I also consider other members of the household or carers in line with legislation, local and national policies, procedures, guidelines and eligibility criteria. I have in-depth knowledge of likely progression and functional implications of a range of complex medical and neurological conditions.

An assessment does not always result in an adaptation or equipment - I use a problem solving approach to empower the individual to be as safe and independent as possible.

To request an Occupational Therapist assessment call Adult Social Care on 0161 217 6029.

I also carry out assessments for applicants wishing to apply for an adapted property. This makes sure that they are placed on the most appropriate adapted property register.

The Area Housing Offices notify me as soon they hear about an adapted property becoming void – I aim to visit within 24 hours to make a detailed assessment of the adaptations in place. I then present the most appropriate applicants to the Adapted Property Panel – the aim is to match properties with costly adaptations to the individuals whose needs are best met by that property.

Looking to the future…

My aim is to develop the Occupational Therapist service – working closely with other Stockport Homes teams to provide our customers with a service which exceeds expectations.

I am available for specialist advice for our tenants and other Stockport

Homes services on disability related issues on 0161 474 2630 or email [email protected]

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Go to www.stockporthomesenergy.org.uk or call free on 0800 410 1245 to find out how much you could save.

Stockport Homes Energy is an easy way to compare prices and switch suppliers.

Save moneyon your gas andelectricity billswith Stockport Homes Energy

Financial Inclusion news

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17www.stockporthomes.org Going Places - Issue 15 Summer 2011www.stockporthomes.org

Housing Need and Support Services news

If you have any suggestions, comments or complaints we would really like to hear them so that we can improve. Please see the ‘contact us’ details on the

website or on page 2 of this newsletter.

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You said, we did

Temporary Accommodation

You wanted compost bins at the family scheme. Two large compost bins have now been made available to residents.

The furniture in the schemes needs updating. New wardrobes, dining tables and chairs, lamps and beds ordered where they needed replacing.

You wanted to learn more about healthy living services in Stockport.

A member of the NHS Lifestyles Team came to an H3 meeting to talk about services including Arts on Prescription, stopping smoking and health walks.

You wanted to start an allotment. H3 successfully bid for £1,640 to start allotments and at the three Temporary Accommodation Schemes.

Resettlement

You wanted more ways to get involved in Stockport Homes’ services.

Customer Involvement promoted the ‘Skills for Life’ programme and becoming a mystery shopper / Quality Panel member at a Focus on You meeting.

You wanted help with understanding the benefits system.

A speaker attended to discuss benefits and what people may or may not be entitled to.

You wanted to meet in a bigger venue outside of Stockport Homes’ head office.

Meetings are now held at the Salvation Army Hall, Heaton Norris.

You said

You said

We did

We did


Quiz corner

Homelessness quiz

Answers below

Of these celebrities who do you think has been homeless?

Homelessness can happen to anyone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go on to great things – even to be famous if that’s your ambition!

1. Halle Berry 2. Billy Connolly 3. Tom Cruise 4. Charlie Chaplin 5. Eminem6. Kurt Cobain 7. Katie Price 8. Jim Carrey 9. David Beckham 10. Shania Twain

1

6

2

7

3

8

4

9

5

10

Halle Berry - Yes: Became homeless after moving to New York when she was 21, she fell into financial problems and had to move into a shelter.

Billy Connolly – No

Tom Cruise – No

Charlie Chaplin – Yes: Spent a lot of his childhood living on the streets, his father died when he was very young and his mother suffered from mental health problems.

Eminem – No

Kurt Cobain – Yes: Had several periods of homelessness throughout his life, spent time living under a bridge sleeping in boxes, hospital waiting rooms, a friends floor and on a couch in a friends garage.

Katie Price (Jordan) – No

Jim Carrey – Yes: His whole family became homeless and lived in a camper van in Canada, then later on in life he ended up sleeping in a tent in his sisters’ garden.

David Beckham – No

Shania Twain – Yes: At 13yrs old her whole family became homeless and had to move into a shelter.

The Manchester City Region CBL Service

Pinpoint Express Customers

Pinpoint Express is the latest feature of the Pinpoint service to help you find a new home. A property advertised with the Pinpoint Express logo indicates that this property will be allocated on a first come first served basis and will be managed by one of the 23 Pinpoint partner landlords. This is the ideal service for those looking for a quick move to social housing. Pinpoint Express offers you more choice and a greater opportunity to obtain a new home quickly.

www.pinpoint.org.uk

Applying for a property through Pinpoint Express does NOT affect your regular bidding on a local choice-based lettings scheme or Pinpoint. Your Pinpoint Band or date of registration will be irrelevant as properties are let on a first come first served basis.

What happens next?

The Pinpoint partner landlord will carry out checks and references prior to allocation as with the Pinpoint choice based lettings scheme. You may be asked for further information or to register with the landlord before being able to view the property. If you are not contacted by the landlord it is likely that you have been unsuccessful on that occasion. Please be aware that you may need to be ready to move in at short notice, therefore references will be required immediately.

Signing up to a Pinpoint Express property will result in your housing application being cancelled by your originating partner landlord. For more information please visit the website.

How can I apply? You do not have to be registered or logged in to apply for a Pinpoint Express property. Simply ring or e-mail the landlord (contact details are provided on the property advertisement) with your details and where you found the property. Check you meet the property criteria stated on the advertisement before contacting the landlord to place your interest.

When contacting a landlord please ensure that you specify which property you are interested in, along with your full name, date of birth and contact details so they can reach you at a later date.

Unlike the Pinpoint choice based lettings scheme, there is no limit on the number of Pinpoint Express properties you can apply for.

is here!

!


Partner Agency news

1. Halle Berry 2. Billy Connolly 3. Tom Cruise 4. Charlie Chaplin 5. Eminem6. Kurt Cobain 7. Katie Price 8. Jim Carrey 9. David Beckham 10. Shania Twain

The Manchester City Region CBL Service

Pinpoint Express Customers

Pinpoint Express is the latest feature of the Pinpoint service to help you find a new home. A property advertised with the Pinpoint Express logo indicates that this property will be allocated on a first come first served basis and will be managed by one of the 23 Pinpoint partner landlords. This is the ideal service for those looking for a quick move to social housing. Pinpoint Express offers you more choice and a greater opportunity to obtain a new home quickly.

www.pinpoint.org.uk

Applying for a property through Pinpoint Express does NOT affect your regular bidding on a local choice-based lettings scheme or Pinpoint. Your Pinpoint Band or date of registration will be irrelevant as properties are let on a first come first served basis.

What happens next?

The Pinpoint partner landlord will carry out checks and references prior to allocation as with the Pinpoint choice based lettings scheme. You may be asked for further information or to register with the landlord before being able to view the property. If you are not contacted by the landlord it is likely that you have been unsuccessful on that occasion. Please be aware that you may need to be ready to move in at short notice, therefore references will be required immediately.

Signing up to a Pinpoint Express property will result in your housing application being cancelled by your originating partner landlord. For more information please visit the website.

How can I apply? You do not have to be registered or logged in to apply for a Pinpoint Express property. Simply ring or e-mail the landlord (contact details are provided on the property advertisement) with your details and where you found the property. Check you meet the property criteria stated on the advertisement before contacting the landlord to place your interest.

When contacting a landlord please ensure that you specify which property you are interested in, along with your full name, date of birth and contact details so they can reach you at a later date.

Unlike the Pinpoint choice based lettings scheme, there is no limit on the number of Pinpoint Express properties you can apply for.

is here!

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19

Performance news

Facts and figures

Housing Options ServiceNumber of visitors to the Housing Information Centre: 10,910People prevented from becoming homeless: 562Total number of decisions about homelessness: 166Full-duty decisions (owed a rehousing duty): 57Non-priority decisions (not owed a rehousing duty, but provided with advice 97 and assistance to secure accommodation): Main reasons for homelessness:• Asked to leave by parents: 28%• Domestic violence: 21%• Required to leave accommodation provided by the Home Office: 21%• Loss of private rented accommodation: 7%

Average wait for an interview: 6 minutesAverage number of days to answer letters: 1% of customers from a Black Minority Ethnic (BME) background: 7.8%

Housing Options – Service standards

The Housing Options Team is a very busy service; last year they interviewed 1,918 households in need of housing advice and at risk of homelessness. At the same time the team strives to ensure that customers are provided with good quality support; as a result the following service standards have been drawn up in consultation with our customers.

Standard Target Outcome

Customers approaching reception at the Housing Information Centre to be seen within five minutes.

100% 100%

Customers with appointments to see a Housing Options Officer to be seen within 10 minutes or less.

10 minutes 6 minutes

Customers who approach the Housing Information Centre to be fairly or very satisfied with their visit overall.

80% 93%

Provide written confirmation of housing/options advice interview within 72 hours.

100% 100%

10% of housing advice cases to be quality assurance checked by a manager and to ensure they are in-line with best practice.

10% 10%

October 2010 – March 2011

The following facts and figures are designed to show you how well the services in this newsletter are performing against standards agreed with our customers, and the amount of people who we provide with support.


Performance news

Temporary accommodation

Temporary accommodation in Stockport is in high demand; Stockport Homes therefore works hard to ensure people are provided with advice to prevent them from becoming homeless, and where this cannot be stopped it aims to ensure that they are helped to move on to their own accommodation as quickly as possible.

Temporary accommodation – Service standards

Housing Options – Service standards (cont.)

Scheme Number accommodated

% from Black and Minority Ethnic groups

Average length of stay (days)

Families 81 17.28% 93Single men 48 8.3% 65Single women / mums and babies

33 15% 56


Provide accommodation that is clean, safe and meets the Temporary Accommodation Re-let Standards.

100% 100%

Ensure that the reception and communal areas are clean, tidy and safe. 100% 100%Maintain appropriate standards of safety and security throughout the accommodation.

100% 100%

Make an appointment with each new resident to explain the services available to them within the scheme.

100% 100%

Provide all residents with a needs assessment interview within two weeks of entering the scheme.

100% 100%

Hold regular resident meetings, at least every six weeks and more often if necessary and provide feedback to service users from each meeting.

100% 100%

Inspect repairs at Temporary Accommodation Schemes (ensuring job satisfactory, area clean and safe).

100% 100%

Provide appropriate information, guidance and signposting in relation to other services, liaise and make referrals where required in relation to service-users individual needs.

100% 100%


Homeless decisions to be made within 33 working days (where all required information is available).

85% 89%

All homeless decisions to be checked by a manager to ensure they are in-line with legislation, best practice and case law.

100% 100%

Visit rough sleepers within 24 hours of notification. 100% 100%

21www.stockporthomes.org Going Places - Issue 15 Summer 2011www.stockporthomes.org


Facts and figures(October 2010 – March 2011)

Repairs at Temporary Accommodation Schemes

Resettlement Service

At the end of this period 109 cases closed:(split 68 Resettlement and 41Tenancy Support Officer (TSO))

Making the Temporary Accommodation Schemes pleasant and safe places to live depends upon making sure repairs are done to a high standard and on time. To help with this, residents are involved in health and safety checks and

encouraged to report faults whenever they see them and are involved in monitoring performance and making suggestions for improvements to the repairs process.

Scheme Total repairs ordered Orders completed within target %Families and off-site 41 38 92%Single men 23 22 96%Single women / mums and babies

23 21 91%

Overall 87 81 93%

90 successful (split 56 Resettlement and 34 TSO)

22 remained in properties but disengaged(split 8 Resettlement and 6 TSO)

1 died. (TSO service-user)

4 abandoned property (Resettlement users)

The Resettlement Team provide support to new and existing tenants in setting up and maintaining their homes. This support can be for up to two years, depending on the tenant’s needs and whether they wish to continue being involved with the service.

243 referrals received (split 142 Resettlement and 101 TSO)

5,838.75 hours of support (3,176 Resettlement and 2,662.75 TSO) given to 216 households (131 Resettlement and 85 TSO)

3,126 home visits (split 2115 Resettlement and 1011 TSO)

109 cases closed


Performance news

Shared Ownership Properties

SALEFOR

23www.stockporthomes.org Going Places - Issue 15 Summer 2011www.stockporthomes.orgwww.stockporthomes.org

Blackberry Lane, Brinnington

In March 2011 construction began on Stockport Homes’ first housing development for sale on a Shared Ownership basis.

Shared Ownership is a form of affordable home ownership whereby the customer purchases a share of the property and rents the remainder from Stockport Homes. The customer can then purchase further shares of the property until they own the property outright (if they want to). In total eight x three bedroom houses will be built on the former Tame Valley Primary School site on Blackberry Lane in Brinnington. The scheme is expected to be completed in November 2011.

Artists impression

Start on site

Shared Ownership news

For more information about these new build projects, please visit our website www.stockportthomes.org under ‘Improving your

home / New build’ or contact Thomas Miles, Development Officer on 0161 474 4322 or email [email protected]

i

These brand new properties feature contemporary fully fitted kitchens and bathrooms, are finished to an exceptionally high specification throughout and also include private gardens. Purchase prices start from just £57,500 for a 50 per cent share, with £30 rent per week payable on the remaining stake. Buyers can choose to acquire the outstanding share of the property at any point.

Shared Ownership Properties

SALEFOR

23Going Places - Issue 15 Summer 2011www.stockporthomes.org


Free football eventfor 8-14 year olds

To book your child’s place, please contact the Caretaking Team on 0161 474 4335 or email [email protected]

At: The Power League, Off Didsbury Road, Heaton Mersey

24 August 2011, 11.00am to 4.00pm

Housing Management news

Accessing our servicesIf you would like a copy of this newsletter in large print, Braille, on audio tape or CD, please contact the Social Inclusion Team on 0161 474 2860 or email [email protected]

A free interpreting service is available if you need help with this newsletter. Please telephone Stockport Interpreting Unit on0161 477 9000. Email [email protected]

Documents

Going Places Newsletter Summer 2011