Transcript Financial Advice Services and Support for Residents

Hertfordshire Financial Capability &
Inclusion Forum
SUPPORT PROVIDED TO RESIDENTS
& CLIENTS
Survey Analysis and Shared Information from
meeting held 13th January 2014
Contents
• Introduction
• Encouraging Saving and Affordable Credit
• Discouraging Payday Loans
• Appliances, Furniture and Furnishings
• Ideas and Actions
Introduction
• Initial sharing of information at Housing Providers’
meeting in December
• Survey developed and circulated to wider group
• 15 responses received prior to meeting 13th January
• This document also includes further links and additional
information discussed at the meeting
Encouraging Saving and Affordable Credit
HOUSING STAFF
Financial Inclusion
Income Teams
Support Workers
RESIDENTS
Potential/New
People with
debt/financial issues
INFORMATION
Leaflets
Own Websites
Other Sites
(Examples and links below)
TRAINING/EVENTS
In-house, external and
partnership events
(Further information below)
ADVICE
Internal and/or referred to:
External agencies
(see below)
CREDIT UNIONS
Range of relationships
(see below)
Money Advice – who does what
Housing – Internal Advisors*
Tenants in arrears, at risk or change of circumstances
Potential/new tenants
Citizens Advice Bureaux*
Anyone resident in local districts, but funding/resources vary so will prioritise help
to those in greatest need. Light touch help for non priority debts.
Telephone advice provided via county rota
Christians Against Poverty
Help those with high support needs – those in crisis at risk of losing their home.
May not suit highly vulnerable clients.
Money Advice Service
Provide light tough advice via single 45 min sessions. Good for those with specific
questions but not for complex debt problems
StepChange
Formerly Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS)
Free debt advice – suitable for non priority debts
payplan
Provide debt management plans, some services are chargeable
Suitable for non priority debts
National Debtline
Free advice on dealing with debt problems – also for non priority debts
Credit Unions*
Depending on resources, some CUs will support those who are in debt.
HCC Money Advice Unit
Currently funded to provide support directly to families in Broxbourne, Stevenage
and Hemel Hempstead. Professionals may seek advice from MAU on benefits,
welfare reform etc on behalf of their clients
* Resources and services available will vary between different organisations
Information Provision- examples/links
Thrive Homes
North Herts
Homes
Film – “Money
Made Simple”
Money Saving
Expert Website
HCC Money
Advice Unit
Financial Capability Training/Events
•
For your clients/residents:
–
–
The Hertfordshire CABx can deliver this, contact Marion Seneschall [email protected] or
Carole Royce [email protected]
NB the challenge is how you promote/package this so that the people who need it attend
•
Local events – the Money Makeover events in Welwyn Hatfield were very successful
in 2013 – 100 people in total attended.
•
For professionals – the HCC Money Advice Unit provides training on Welfare Reform
etc for frontline workers in the voluntary and housing sector. Contact:
[email protected]
•
Training Resources – a range of resources are available via the HTDC website for
use by those delivering financial capability training.
–
If you have resources available to share with others email [email protected] so we can continue to
improve and update the site
Credit Unions –
Range of Relationships with Housing:
•
•
•
•
•
Promotion
Referrals
Partnership Working
Integrated in support team (e.g. YMCA)
Specific products/agreements e.g.:
– Funding/underwriting loans (NHH)
– Managed Accounts for tenants (NHH/Hertsavers)
– CredEcard (Watford CHT)
• Jam Jar Accounts – topical interest due to Welfare Reforms
– But complex to manage and costly to provide
• Other ventures launching in advance of Universal Credit:
– E.g. Post Office pilot in Harpenden and Bishop’s Stortford
Discouraging Payday Loans
TALK ABOUT IT
1:1 or small groups
Simply demonstrate how debts can escalate
Compare with alternatives e.g. CU loans
Negotiate alternative repayments
PROMOTE/PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES
Own emergency loans (NHH, WCHT)
Credit Union Loans
Foodbanks
Grants e.g. HWAS, Local funds
National Housing Federation –
My Home Finance and Contents Insurance
PREVENTION
Training and Education
Articles and Leaflets
Quids In
Support for
Appliances, Furniture or Furnishings
• Information and referrals – furniture schemes, white goods
schemes, Freecycle
• Financial help
– Small grants, vouchers or discounts at furniture schemes (B3 Living, NHH,
Riversmead) – often focussed on new tenants
– Assistance to access grants e.g. Turn2Us, HWAS, Local Hardship funds (North
Herts), DWP budgeting advances, Local trusts and charities e.g. SAFA
– CU loans for creditworthy clients
• Other support
– Recycle furniture from voids and families downsizing (Riversmead)
– Negotiate discounts/deals with suppliers (WCHT investigating)
What else has worked well
•
Riversmead – partnership working with CAB and Genesis Housing
•
North Herts Homes – fund worker from HYH for tenants under 25
•
A contribution from the individual to add sense of value and own esteem
(YMCA)
•
Ensure tenants aware of support available from your team and get help
early on (Guinness South)
•
Having a good rapport with external providers and regular
communication/updating (Howard Cottage)
Key issues
• Cuts in benefits and welfare have increased demand
• Difficult to access help from HWAS:
– Updated information has been requested from HCC and will be circulated
• Problems in obtaining repayments from crisis loan borrowers (St
Albans CU)
Ideas for Discussion
•
Central directory* for referral agencies (Riversmead, Paradigm, Sanctuary)
•
Improved awareness of services and criteria* (YMCA)
•
Newsletter with updates on what’s available* (Howard Cottage)
•
Email database to ask other members of the forum about experience in
dealing with particular situations* (Howard Cottage)
•
Low cost packages with suppliers (WCHT)
•
Improved digital inclusion is a key priority (NHH/Digital Unite)
–
Planning to train up Digital Champions
* Outcome of discussion at the meeting is on next slide
Information on Services, Grants etc
• The Herts Direct website has an alphabetical, categorised directory
of community organisations
– Provides overview and contact details, but may not be 100% comprehensive or
up to date
– Includes – Advice on Money and Debt; Furniture Schemes; Grant-making
organisations
• More detailed information such as up to date eligibility for support or
funding could be considered as part of the CAB Advice Services
Transition Fund projects?
– Further discussion and brief will be required
Sarah Elliott
Development Worker
Hertfordshire Training & Development Consortium
01707 251351
[email protected]
www.htdc.org.uk
HTDC is a project led by Hertfordshire Community Foundation,
registered charity number 299438.