Coronavirus Information for Tenants and Leaseholders
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SPRING 2020 HH ooNNuuEEWsinWsinSS gg CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION FOR TENANTS AND LEASEHOLDERS STAY AT HOME | PROTECT THE NHS | SAVE LIVES Follow us on @ColBoroughHomes and Colchester Borough Homes for the latest news. This edition of Housing News and As the advice currently stands, it is Views comes to you at a very difficult imperative that everyone stays at timeHello for everyone. We have produced home and that we only go out for the this edition to assist you with advice four reasons stipulated in government and guidance and also to let you know guidance. This will protect the NHS what CBH are doing for our tenants and save lives. and leaseholders. It’s understandable that people may be Let me assure you that the safety feeling a range of emotions at the and security of our tenants, our moment. In this Housing News & Views leaseholders and our staff is our top we’ve provided information about how priority. We have taken measures to our services are running, advice on how ensure everyone is as safe as possible to boost you mental and physical during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) wellbeing, along with some wonderful outbreak and we continue to monitor organisations which you can support by and comply with government advice. becoming a volunteer. We’ve also included a few puzzles at the back to Part of our role in times such as these keep your mind stimulated. is to focus on our critical services – While we remain hopeful that the those where customers need us the measures put in place will reduce the most – for CBH those critical services impact of this pandemic, it is vital are contact with and support for our that we all follow the guidance set sheltered and more vulnerable out by the government. tenants, emergency repairs, support for rough sleepers and homeless Stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives. households and customer services via With very best wishes from the phone and online. everyone at CBH. For this issue of Housing News & Views, we've also added in links if you're reading an online copy. You will find links throughout this copy which will take you to external websites for more detailed information. To spot the links, they will be blue. All information in this edition was correct at the time of print 24 April 2020. 2 KEEP UPTODATE All the latest information from Colchester Borough Council. Includes information on: Benefits and council tax Waste and recycling Community Support colchester.gov.uk/coronavirus Colchester Prevent - Inform - Assist Stay at Home | Protect the NHS | Save Lives Temporary changes to recycling and rubbish collections COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has had an The Council will continue to collect impact on the recycling and rubbish non-recyclable rubbish (black bags/ collections in Colchester. To help with bins) every two weeks and food waste this, Colchester Borough Council has every week. hired more staff and made some temporary changes to its collections Your collection day remains the same to keep this critical service going and please make sure your collections during these difficult times. are on your property boundary ready for collection by 7am, as usual. These temporary changes affect households with kerbside collections There is a new temporary 3-month and include: recycling calendar to reflect these An extra 60 litre black bag of changes. Download the right calendar rubbish can go out on a Blue Week for you by using our postcode look-up tool at www.colchester.gov.uk/ Cans, glass, plastics, paper/card your-recycling-calendar. If you’re recycling is collected once every unable to do this yourself, perhaps a four-weeks, rather than every two neighbour, friend or family member weeks could help you with this. A maximum of six clear bags of recycling and two green boxes can There are no changes for residents on be put out for collection when assisted collections and flats with these collections types are due communal rubbish and recycling collections. Garden waste and textile collections are suspended until further notice Find out more, get ideas on how to reduce and reuse your items and see Frequently Asked Questions at: www.colchester.gov.uk/coronavirus/residents/recycling-and-rubbish/ 4 How we can be contacted For repairs and general enquiries: Phone: Email: 01206 282514 [email protected] For enquires regarding Gateway Housing register: Phone: 01206 580292 We have - following government advice - suspended advertising and allocation of properties until further notice. Our staff are still available to discuss any questions regarding a housing application. For any enquiries regarding homelessness: Phone: 01206 580290 Email: [email protected] Due to the closure of Colchester Library and the Greenstead Local Housing Office, please only contact us on the above details for the foreseeable future. To get advice on your homeless enquiry, access the Enhanced Housing Option portal by going to gatewaytohomechoice.org.uk and clicking on Housing Options. Repairs Our priority is the wellbeing of our residents and staff. Until further notice, we will only be booking the most urgent and emergency repairs. You will not be contacted for an appointment if you report any non-essential repairs. In some instances, we may ask you if you're self-isolating or have been diagnosed with the virus. We will only use this information for the purpose of ensuring health, safety and wellbeing of employees, contractors and you. We won’t share this information with anyone else, unless to comply with legal obligations or it is in the public interest. If you feel unwell or are self-isolating and you need to cancel an appointment with us or one of our contractors, please phone us on 01206 282514 or email us at [email protected]. 5 If you see a rough sleeper and are concerned for their How we’re supporting welfare, you can report them directly to support services who homeless households can help them via StreetLink and rough sleepers www.streetlink.org.uk/ Colchester Borough Homes is aware Colchester Borough Homes, alongside that people who are rough sleeping or Colchester Borough Council and other who live in shared spaces, like hostels partner organisations, is working and supported accommodation, are at diligently in response to a situation particular risk from the effects of the that is developing very quickly. We will coronavirus. Many have underlying continue to monitor the situation to health conditions that make them ensure homeless people and rough more vulnerable and they are unable sleepers continue to receive the to self-isolate in the event of services they need. infection. We are committed to maintaining That is why our Housing Solutions services, wherever possible. team is following public health We will continue to work in guidelines and has a plan in place to partnership with local and regional provide support to some of the most partners and health providers to susceptible members of our consider how we can deploy community. The plan will be additional resources and support regularly reviewed with our services for some of the most partners as things develop. vulnerable people in our community. Information on benefits, council tax The website has advice for: Benefits and Universal Credit Housing Benefit and Local Housing We understand residents might Allowance increase have a few questions or concerns at Local Council Tax Support the moment. The Council have Local Council Tax Support 2020-2021 provided advice on a range of topics COVID-19 Hardship Fund at colchester.gov.uk/coronavirus/ Universal Credit residents. There is a useful pack available from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. If you search for 'Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance for Landlords and Tenants' on a search engine, it should be available by clicking on the first link. 6 This information can help if: you’re feeling anxious or worried about coronavirus Mind you’re staying at home and avoiding public places, and wellbeing following Government advice www.mind.org.uk that we should stay at home as much as possible The mental health charity MIND you're self-isolating because has provided advice and support you, or someone you live with, has symptoms of coronavirus. to empower anyone experiencing Self-isolating means that you a mental health problem. stay home and keep away from You might be worried about other people COVID-19 and how it could affect There’s also some great advice and your life. This may include having to support from AGE-UK and stay at home and avoid other people. Campaign to End Loneliness. Things might feel difficult or stressful, www.ageuk.org.uk but there are lots of things you can try www.campaigntoendloneliness.org that could help your wellbeing. Some of our key advice to looking after your mental health during the next few weeks are: Connect with people Try to keep active – over the phone, social we’ve offered some media, emails and tips on the next page. video calling apps. Try to make a routine and keep to it. Get up at the same time as normal, follow your usual morning routines and go to bed at your usual time. Set alarms to remind you of your new schedule if that helps. Keep your brain Stay connected with occupied and current events, but be challenged. Set careful where you get news and aside time in health information from. The your routine for this. Read NHS coronavirus webpage and gov.uk books, magazines and coronavirus webpages are very good sources articles. Listen to podcasts, of information. www.nhs.uk/conditions/ watch films and do puzzles. coronavirus-covid-19/ www.gov.uk/coronavirus 7 More info on #StayInWorkOut available on www.sportengland.org/ stayinworkout KEEP Some of our other favourite FREE resources for keeping fit: ACTIVE The Body Coach (Joe Wicks) Lots of videos available on Youtube Sport England IS running a Nike Training App Free app fantastic campaign called with a variety of activities #StayInWorkOut, which is NHS Workouts Good mix of offering lots of fun and cardio and strength training creative ideas to get active at www.nhs.uk/oneyou/for-your-body/ home, with free workouts from move-more/home-workout-videos providers such as Joe Wicks (The NHS Sitting Exercises Lots of Body Coach), Nike and the NHS.