Brent Council's new housing advice service helps hundreds

Published by martin for Brent Council in Housing and also in Local Government

A new advice service which brings together different agencies and voluntary groups to provide housing support has helped hundreds since it was launched by Brent Council.

The Brent Single Homeless Advice Service is being held at the Community Centre at Cricklewood Homeless Concern (CHC) for one afternoon a week to give support on housing needs and other issues for single homeless people.

Staff from voluntary sector groups, Brent Council, and Jobcentre Plus attend the drop-in service to advise on issues such as drug and alcohol misuse, employment, physical health, mental health, housing, and rough sleeping.

Since it was launched on March 5 this year, the advice service has seen 177 people, of whom about 30 are repeat visitors and made 200 referrals to external agencies. It has also cut waiting times for clients to have a housing advice appointment from on average three weeks down to just one week.

Perry Singh, Assistant Director of Housing Need and Private Sector, said:
"This service is not only providing housing support, but enabling people to resolve many different issues ranging from mental health to alcohol misuse which we know can be linked to people having problems with housing.

"It has had fantastic commitment from the voluntary sector and is already showing significant results shown by better rough sleeper intervention, and the number of referrals it has been making."

At the drop-in clients are given a one-to-one interview with Brent Council's Housing Advice Service officers who discuss options and direct a client to one of the agencies present on the day, according to the person's needs.

Officers also make referrals to other support not present on the day such as Brent Citizens Advice Bureau, Brent Community Law Centre, and Connexions.

A client who attended the service said: "All members of staff are extremely helpful and friendly. They made my situation clear and I am now looking forward to their continued support."

The service is held every Wednesday from 2-4pm at CHC in Ashford Road in Cricklewood. For more information, please contact the Single Homeless Advice Service co-ordinator Jahaan Gahunia on 020 8937 1784.