HOMELESSNESS
finding childcare. It is a strategy that
is working – government statistics
indicate that Ealing achieves one of
the highest levels of homelessness
prevention in the country.
Mark Wiltshire, the council’s
director of safer communities and
housing, said: “The council’s priority
is to prevent people from becoming
homeless in the first place. And,
over the past year, we have been
preventing more than 500 individuals
and families from becoming
homeless every three months. The
key is for people to talk to us as early
as possible if they are worried.
“However, we are also
working towards ending the use
of unsuitable and costly bed
and breakfast accommodation
for those families who have
become homeless.
“Last year, the council built 94
temporary homes in Hanwell and
Acton and new hostel places have
been provided in Northolt and
Southall, too. Furthermore, the
council has introduced a range of
incentives to encourage more private
sector landlords to accept vulnerable
families. However, there is more to
do and we are planning to build
more temporary homes this year.”
following the break-up of her
marriage, because her husband had
previously paid all the bills.
Unsure of her options, and
worried about the prospect of being
made homeless, Mrs De Jesus
approached the council for help.
Council officers advised her about
housing benefit that she was entitled
to that could help with the rent.
She was also advised to speak
to her landlord to ask for a new
tenancy agreement, which they
agreed to provide. The council then
assisted with the deposit.
Mrs De Jesus, of Northolt, said:
“I was desperate and unsure of my
options when I went to the council
for help. They were very reassuring,
explained my options, helped me
with forms and documents, and
even contributed towards my rent
deposit. The support and advice
I received definitely helped me
avoid eviction.”
Help on the streets
For those unfortunate enough to
find themselves sleeping rough,
the council’s outreach service is out
on the streets providing support. It
is run by the homelessness charity
St Mungo’s and is managing to
stabilise the situation locally,
despite huge pressures, with the
help of other charities such as
Ealing Soup Kitchen and Acton
Homeless Concern.
Read an interview with a
St Mungo’s Ealing volunteer
at ealingnewsextra.co.uk/
feautres/Ealing-homeless
‘HELPED ME AVOID EVICTION’
Raising her young child at
home, and so not in paid work,
Mrs De Jesus got into rent arrears
Temporary homes at
Meath Court in Acton,
which opened in
December
MORE INFO: Need help?
Contact the council’s Housing
Advice Service in Perceval House
on 020 8825 8888 or email
[email protected]
around ealing April 2018
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