what is the ppp joint project between southwark law centre and blackfriars advice centre aim to...
Post on 24-Dec-2015
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What is the PPP
Joint Project between Southwark Law Centre and Blackfriars Advice Centre
Aim to reduce the number of evictions and homelessness by early intervention & policy work.
Funded by the Legal Services Commission for 3 years.
Covers the borough of Southwark
Early intervention
Identifying who tenants first contact when they have a housing problem.
Local knowledge
County Court survey
Direct contact with tenants
BME agencies
Keeping an open mind
Early intervention
Providing training to organisations in Housing law.
To date over 44 agencies trained
Over 110 individuals
Including the CAB, Credit Union, Multi-cultural agencies and more
Early intervention
First training course concentrated on Council tenancies (Secure/Introductory & Non-secure)
Focused on immediate steps to take at various stages of the eviction process.
Effective referrals.
2nd tier advice
Encouraging court attendance by tenants Southwark Housing Lawyers Group
Early intervention
The second wave of training is on Private tenancies (Assured, Assured Shorthold, Rent Act & Non-Secure Tenancies).
Consider immediate steps to take.
Build upon effective referrals.
Improve and monitor 2nd tier advice
Court attendance
Early intervention
2nd Tier advice
Agencies appreciate that their knowledge is limited.
Encouraged to contact Southwark Law Centre for telephone advice.
PPP now considering supervision of agencies case work.
PPP considering keeping workshops where agencies can discuss problematic cases.
Early intervention
Effective referrals and SHLG
What is SHLG.
Why was it needed.
How has it helped referrals
Wider implications of SHLG
Policy work
National Level
• Promote ODPM research and guidance
• Promote national research into causes of rent arrears and social costs of homelessness.
• Encourage best practice guidance on rent arrears.
• Provide consolidated response to Civil Justice Council’s consultation on the rent arrears protocol.
Policy work
Local Level
Engaging with other voluntary sector organisation.
Making and sustaining contact with key members in the Local Authority.
Rent Income teamHousing Benefit managersHomelessness services
Policy work
Local Level
PPP Good Practice Report for rent arrears management.
Direct Deductions from Benefit.
Tolerated trespasser
Standard letters re: rent arrears
Policy work
Housing Benefit issues and rent arrears
SHLG participating in Policy issues
Liaison with Local County Court
Promoting the Duty Solicitor Scheme
Contributing to the Homelessness Strategy
Next steps
Continue to train agencies in housing law
Provide supervision of these agencies
Provide workshops for these agencies
Promote 2nd tier advice
Next steps
Increase referrals
More focus on the causes of rent arrears
Develop policies with Housing
Association and Private landlords
Next steps
Monitor the effects of policy initiatives
Monitor the effects of training
Secure funding for the PPP
Examine becoming self funding
Consider cross borough projects
Examine national training strategy
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