Copeland Borough Council's primary aim is to stop people from
becoming homeless or to help find them suitable alternative secure
housing.
We want to reduce the number of people who are either homeless
or in danger of becoming homeless by giving them choices and
options to suit their circumstances.
We often work with other parts of the Council and outside
agencies so that we can offer the best possible solution to help
solve someone's problems and stop them from losing their home.
There are a number of examples of what we can do to help, but
these include:
Dealing with domestic violence
by providing links to a number of different options
Effective partnerships
working closely with external agencies and private landlords to
meet the housing needs of local people
Offering choice and options
Working with private landlords to raise standards in the private
sector and encourage good practice
Making it easier for low income households to access private
sector housing e.g. through rent bond schemes
Mediation
Offering mediation service for young people (aged 16-25) and
their families who may be being made homeless following family fall
outs
Homeless Prevention Fund
A fund which helps in a variety of ways to help prevent
homelessness
Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP's)
Work with the Housing Benefits Department and Benefits Advisers
to encourage and consider requests for DHP's as a means to help
prevent homelessness
Have "early warning" protocols with local Housing Associations
and others to share information on cases where people are in danger
of becoming homeless so that appropriate advice and information can
be given to them as soon as possible
The Council must make enquiries into your application and
therefore you must be aware that we may ask you some questions that
you may find intrusive. Your application will however, be assessed
as sympathetically and as sensitively as possible.
Our Promise to You
We will:
- Do everything we can to prevent homelessness, for example
through negotiation, mediation or working with the privately rented
sector
- Complete enquiries into your application within 33 working
days
- Answer your queries promptly, be polite and treat everyone
fairly and with courtesy and respect
- Ask your opinions and for suggestions on how to improve the
service we give
- Arrange temporary accommodation for you if you are homeless or
become homeless whilst we are investigating your application and
have a priority need. This can be bed & breakfast accommodation
(but only if no other form of temporary accommodation is
available)
- Try to move you into temporary accommodation as soon as
possible (once we accept a duty to rehouse you) until we find a
permanent property for you
- Ensure that your housing application is maximised
- Explore options such as hostel and privately rented
accommodation
Your Promise to Us
You will:
- Do everything you can to provide the information we ask
for
- Provide us with the correct information so that we can speed up
our service to you
- Try and keep appointments with your Housing Options Adviser, if
not you will phone to arrange a more suitable appointment
- Inform us immediately of any change in circumstances that may
occur
- We know you are under difficult circumstances but be polite and
courteous to us
As soon as you are aware that you may be in danger of losing
your home then please arrange for a confidential interview with one
of our Housing Options Advisers who can help you far more easily
before problems get worse.
Don't worry as we are here to help you!
Mortgage Problems
If you are experiencing any problems in paying
your mortgage contact us straight away as we can help you.
Please also see the Government website on Mortgage Help.