HOUSING IN - USEFUL INFORMATION

NHAS Factsheets – some of these are in your pack, but you can find more on the NHAS website Website: nhas.org.uk/factsheets

Dorset Home Choice – Choice-Based Lettings scheme for District Council, Christchurch Council, District Council, Council, District Council and Weymouth & Portland Borough Council in partnership with & Poole Borough Councils Website: www.dorsethomechoice.org/dorset-homechoice/home.aspx

Emergency Local Assistance - grants for residents in a crisis or a situation that poses an immediate threat to their health and safety. Dorset: www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/grants/emergency-local-assistance, 01305 221044 Bournemouth: www.bournemouth.gov.uk/benefitssupport/localwelfareassistancefund/applyforthelocalwelfareassist ancefund.aspx Poole - 01202 633713

Housing Benefit - help you pay your rent if you’re on a low income Dorset: www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/housing-benefit Bournemouth: www.bournemouth.gov.uk/benefitssupport/HousingBenefit Poole: www.poole.gov.uk/benefits-and-council-tax/benefits/housing-benefit/

Local Housing Allowance Rates Calculator – Local housing allowance is a way of working out how much housing benefit you can get to help pay the rent if you have a private landlord. Website: Website: www.lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/search.aspx (Enter your details to calculate your LHA)

Local Authority Housing Advice – help to discuss your housing options Dorset: www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/article/395064/Housing-Advice-Services Bournemouth: www.bournemouth.gov.uk/Housing/Housing.aspx Poole: www.poole.gov.uk/homes-and-housing/housing-options-advice/housing-advice

Shelter Dorset - free advice and specialist help on a wide range of housing issues Telephone: 0344 515 1400 Website: .shelter.org.uk/get_advice/advice_services_directory/bournemouth

Local Citizens Advice offices - free, confidential and impartial advice to everybody Telephone: 0344 245 1291 Website: www.citizensadvicedorset.org.uk Online housing advice: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing

Dorset Mediation - conflict and dispute resolution service for the people of Dorset Telephone: 01305 257717 Website: www.mediationdorset.co.uk The You Trust – support for people facing homelessness and domestic abuse Telephone: 0330 123 2550 Website: www.theyoutrust.org.uk/service/homelessness

Domestic Abuse services Telephone: 0800 032 5204 Website www.theyoutrust.org.uk/service/domestic-violence-abuse

Dorset Street Homeless Outreach Team (SHOT) - aims to reduce rough sleeping and the problems associated with rough sleeping, working across Dorset (excluding Bournemouth and Poole) providing services including street outreach to people who are street homeless. Telephone: Purbeck - 01929 422777 West Dorset - 01308 427195 - 01305 760799 East Dorset and Christchurch - 01202 482908 North Dorset - Blandford 01258 450862 or Gillingham 01747 82587 Website: www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/article/418443/Rough-sleeping

Exeter Drug Project (EDP) – supporting people to address their drug and alcohol misuse Telephone: Blandford - 01258 450 862 Gillingham - 01747 825 872 - 01308 427 195 - 01929 422 777 Christchurch - 01202 482 908 Weymouth - 01305 760 799 Website: www.edp.org.uk

Housing support for young people: Website: www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/housing-homelessness-young-people

Agencies offering furniture, white goods etc:

 Dorset Reclaim www.dorsetreclaim.org.uk

 Salvation Army store, Winton www.facebook.com/WintonBournemouthSalvationArmy/

 Second Chance Furniture, Weymouth Portland and South Dorset - www.scfurniture.org.uk

 Purbeck Besom - www.besom.com/local-besoms Email: [email protected]

Tenancy (Rent) Deposit Scheme - www.gov.uk/tenancy-deposit-protection/overview

Ukhomeswap is a council exchange, housing association exchange and homeswap membership organisation providing mutual exchange advertising in the uk. Website: www.ukhomeswap.co.uk

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