More housing support choice for residents
Thursday August 26, 2010
Thousands more vulnerable and elderly residents in the borough will be given access to housing support thanks to a new council contract.
Hammersmith & Fulham Council has created an improved housing support package for residents, ensuring they have more choice when it comes to deciding who provides their services for free.
From October 1, older people who live anywhere in the borough, could be entitled to access housing support which, up until now, has only been provided mainly to residents living in sheltered housing by their scheme manager.
Support is currently offered to 1,400 residents in 37 sheltered housing schemes and, whether they need it or not, they have still had to pay for it. In fact, more than 60 per cent of people living in sheltered housing are neither frail nor need additional housing support, according to the council.
Some tenants have had concerns about how the new scheme would affect their wardens and on-site services. However, residents will, in fact, have an enhanced housing management service via a two-pronged approach – on-site staff will still carry out tasks like maintaining communal areas, general repairs but specialist workers will come in to provide care and support.
Cllr Joe Carlebach, cabinet member for community care, said: “The consultation we carried out last year with elderly and disabled residents showed that 84% of people broadly support the changes. The majority of sheltered housing residents have been paying for a service they do not use, which does not make sense, but now thousands of people will benefit from the criteria widening.”
The new housing related support contracted services will be free to all residents who need it and will be delivered by organisations Sagecare and Notting Hill Housing.
Cllr Carlebach said: “Our residents are important and they deserve the best possible service. Changing contractors will not mean a change in the level of care or support but it will mean more choice for residents and that even more people will get support services they deserve and need. We are continuing to push the boundaries and show that, despite the difficult current economic climate, the council really can deliver more for less.”
