Council and Housing Trust Help Homeless Keep Warm This Winter

Published by Fiona Lowe for Welwyn Hatfield Community Housing in Housing

Welwyn Hatfield Community Housing Trust has been awarded a share of the Government’s ‘Warm Homes Healthy People’ Fund.  Launched in 2011, the initiative aims to help homeless people, older people and those on low incomes who are struggling to keep warm over winter.

The Trust will be working with Hertfordshire County Council and other local organisations on initiatives to help those in need, particularly Welwyn Hatfield residents who are homeless or in danger of becoming so due to mortgage difficulty or rent arrears.

A significant portion of the grant will be used to supply short-term bed and breakfast accommodation for homeless people who are not entitled, by law, to stay in the council’s own temporary housing. The accommodation will provide vital respite to those individuals, and an opportunity to secure long-term accommodation without having to sleep rough in the meantime.

Paul Wren, Chair of the Trust’s Management Board said:  “The council and the Trust offer advice and assistance where possible to people facing homelessness all year round.

This additional money will enable us to provide essential help to even more local people in need, giving them a chance to stay safe and warm while they try to find a place to live.”

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Notes to the Editor:

Welwyn Hatfield Community Housing Trust manages homes on behalf of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council. Visit the council’s website at www.welhat.gov.uk

Visit the Trust’s website at www.welhat-cht.org.uk and find us on Facebook and Twitter.

For further details on the scheme email housingneedsadmin@welhat-cht.org.uk or Tel 01707 357618.

Hertfordshire County Council has been awarded a share of the Government Department of Health’s ‘Warm Homes, Healthy People’ fund. The County Council is working with the ten local councils in Hertfordshire, NHS Hertfordshire and voluntary organisations across the county to identify people in need.  The Community Housing Trust has been allocated a share of the County Council’s funding.

Please contact Hertfordshire County Council HertsHelp on 0300 123 4044 for further information or visit www.hertsdirect.org.uk