Sentinel launches DVD to help residents through the hard times

Published by Steve Murphy for Sentinel Housing Association Ltd in Housing and also in Bill Payments, Education

HAMPSHIRE landlord Sentinel Housing Association will next week launch a DVD offering tips and advice to help residents keep a roof over their head during the recession.

With the recession expected to run for at least another year, Sentinel teamed up with TV 'consumer champion' Dominic Littlewood to present a 15-minute programme exploring how different people cope with debt and arrears. The DVD will be previewed to housing professionals at the South East Chartered Institute of Housing conference in Brighton.

Sentinel will offer the DVD and booklet to both residents in early-stage arrears as well as those facing eviction, and has already had strong interest from other housing associations wanting to snap up copies for residents in difficulty across the country.

Sentinel Executive Director Val Bagnall said: “This is the latest of a series of financial inclusion initiatives to help and advise residents who find themselves in difficulty.  A DVD is a great way of offering genuine help without overloading residents with information, and particularly helps those with literacy problems who might otherwise ignore this kind of advice altogether.”

The film and booklet offers advice ranging from debt and benefit advice and budgeting to ideas to increase household income and where to get affordable loans.

Housing professionals interested in helping residents can view the DVD and booklet at Exhibition Stand 74 from March 3-5 2009.

Contact steve.murphy@sentinelha.org.uk to find out more