Housing

Find and sustain a tenancy with Lift’s Private Rented Sector Housing Project

Lift runs a PRS housing a service aiming to house single people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in to the Private Rented Sector whilst providing training and volunteering opportunities.

  • 38 people in 2014/15 have been supported into PRS tenancies.
  • Our tenancy sustainment rate is 98%
  • 18% of the people housed were also supported into employment

For many people in Brent who do not have priority need, private rented accommodation is the only viable solution to get housed. Lift’s project aims to create sustainable tenancies and prevent the costly and damaging effects of becoming homeless on the individual and society.

We will be working closely with the London Borough of Brent, local Landlords and Agents as well as local service providers to ensure people can access decent and sustainable accommodation in the private sector.

Who is eligible?

The project is aimed at single men and women in Brent who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with low and medium support needs.

We will be taking referrals from a variety of agencies and will also welcome self-referrals.

What can we offer Clients?

We offer a bespoke PRS resettlement programme tailored to the individual offering:

  • Help with searching for accommodation
  • Pre-tenancy training in group environment including independent living, budgeting, self advocacy, advice on liaising with landlords, sustaining accommodation.
  • Accompanying to the viewing and sign up
  • Post resettlement support including help setting up utilities, changing benefit addresses and applying for any relevant grants, support with landlord liaison
  • Linking in and supplement any existing support and sign posting to other agencies if a gap is identified.
  • Post tenancy support which includes visiting the client in their new home providing ad hoc support if and when needed.
  • Encouragement and support for those wish to link in with Lift’s employment and involvement services and other relevant services to improve skills and confidence
  • Peer support including training and volunteering opportunities as ‘PRS Navigators’ to support clients accessing and sustaining tenancies

Click here for further information

What can we offer Landlords?

  • Pre vetted pool of ready to move in tenants.
  • Help with processing HB applications.
  • Named point of contact for duration of tenancy to support landlord.
  • Support to tenants to help insure the tenancy is a success.
  • Professional advice around benefit changes and how to mitigate risks they may cause.

 

If you are a prospective tenant or landlord please contact:

Edyta Blaszczyk on [email protected] on 0208 965 2561.

 

The service is will enter its forth year as of April 2015 and is funded by Brent Council and Crisis.

It builds on a successful two year partnership with Thames Reach, who seconded some of their expert staff to help set up and deliver the project. Together we supported 69 homeless people to access and sustain PRS accommodation in two years.

Thank you to Crisis who provided the initial funding for the Sustained Tenancies and Empowerment (STEP) project and Brent Council who part-funded the project last year and this year. Thank you also to Thames Reach for their support and a big thank you also goes to the volunteers who played an instrumental role in the success of the project.