Service name: Advice Station
Service description
Advice Station gives residents legal help on housing issues, co-ordinating advice services, managing the advice forum and supporting and training others to give advice. H&F Council funds the project.
Funded until
31 March 2028
Annual funding level
£102,452
In the past year...
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The Law Centre has given advice to 679 residents and 95 different local organisations. It has provided casework to 33 residents, and represented 20 at court
Outcomes for the community
- 90% of those who used the service said they felt better informed on their housing rights
- 90% of residents provided with casework support had their housing issue resolved
- 85% of service users retained their home as a result of legal representation
- Six advice forums helped 25 providers with topics such as welfare reform, Brexit, housing stock transfer, housing and homelessness strategies
- 15 training events have been delivered, covering welfare reform, residence rights, tenancies and possession proceedings
- Of 140 advice conference attendees, 95% would attend another.
Case study
Mr A, a homeless asylum seeker, has depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. He has attempted suicide several times and self-harms. He has also been hospitalised several times. His homeless application to the council was refused as he didn’t have a priority need. Despite review, the decision was upheld, and he was evicted from his hostel. However, following written representations following a change of circumstances, his fresh application was accepted. He is now hopeful of receiving a permanent property from the council within the next year.
Future plans
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A new advice strategy is being prepared, and the advice station website updated. The Law Centre continues to advise from its Fulham office, and has a presence in Hammersmith at The Foodbank Hub on Tuesday mornings. The centre co-ordinates the H&F Advice Forum, an alliance of advice and information providers in the borough, which meets six times a year and has regular training events.