MEETING HOUSING NEEDS – 2ND REVIEW
Intended Outcomes:
Awareness of the need and options for appropriate and affordable housing is raised. Levels of homelessness are reduced through early intervention, education and the development of supportive social networks.
Actions:
3.1 New housing initiatives developed by Aberdeenshire Council’s Housing Service and Registered Social Landlords will be done in consultation with tenants groups and community organisations.
3.2 Key messages will be identified by housing providers and promoted through various media channels to raise awareness of housing need.
3.3 Council’s Housing Service will provide information on local housing need, including waiting list size and levels of homelessness, and other key messages.
3.4 User experience will be kept at the centre of the management and delivery of Apply4Homes, the new integrated online system for applying for social housing.
3.5 There will be continuous development and work to encourage corporate and community buy into homelessness service development and resulting activity across Aberdeenshire. We will aim to address the root causes and effects of homelessness with an integrated approach that is inclusive to all relevant stakeholders.
Partners
Aberdeenshire Council Social Work and Housing, Registered Social Landlords, Tenant Associations and Kincardine &d Mearns (& other) Community Planning Group.
Progress & Results:
1 request was made for housing information and it was provided to Cammachmore Community Council who was carrying out engagement in their area.
Apply4Homes partners are meeting regularly. Prior to Apply4Homes 25% of applicants applied to more than one Landlord. To date, 71% of all applicants now select more than one landlord.
Kincardine and Mearns Community Planning group initiated the process of collecting local information on 1) local housing need/homelessness 2) what housing need/homelessness information the Council’s Housing Service can provide, according to action 3.3,
3) any other information the housing service publicise and where.
Next steps:
Work is continuing for all of these actions and further progress is requested regularly by the Community Planning Group.
Apply4Homes partners’ next task is to implement a pre application system allowing applicants to gain a reasonable expectation of whether they will be made an offer of housing.
Lead Partners & Contact:
Liz Hamilton
Housing & Social Work
Aberdeenshire Council
Liz.hamilton@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
01467 628406
K&M Communities 