North West Leicestershire Homeless Project

North West Leicestershire Homeless Project is a charitable organisation which exists to assist those in the district who are homeless or threatened with homelessness. The primary aim is to secure long term accommodation for such clients but when the need is urgent, then assistance is given in finding temporary housing.

How the Project Helps People

One of the roles of the Project Co-ordinator is to keep records of housing providers in the district and suitable available accommodation.

The Co-ordinator is always willing to receive telephone calls or a visit from those who have been made homeless or are threatened with homelessness.

The Co-ordinator spends time with the client so that she can get a broad picture of his or her circumstances and housing needs.

The Co-ordinator will then give advice about the different options available. This may include local authority housing and housing provided by other registered social landlords, hostel accommodation, private rented accommodation, bed and breakfast facilities and lodgings, depending upon the individual circumstances.

Where appropriate, with the client's agreement, there may also be referral to other agencies which can offer advice and ongoing support to the client regarding financial and other difficulties with which he or she is faced.

Assistance will be given by the Co-ordinator in completion of application forms for Housing Associations and other organisations and if required, support will be given to the client throughout the application process and in discussing available options with the housing providers concerned. Where required, the Co-ordinator will also provide limited ongoing support to assist a client to settle into new accommodation e.g. ensure that forms of application for Housing Benefit are completed, apply for grants for furnishings etc.

There is always a shortage of landlords and landladies able to offer accommodation privately for those in need of housing and the Co-ordinator endeavours to build up a resource of those in the locality who are willing to do this. The Project is always keen to hear from anyone who is able to provide:

• a home
• a room
• a flat
• bed and breakfast
• lodgings

Please contact the Co-ordinator if you are able to assist in this way or if you are thinking about it and would like to discuss it further before committing yourself.

The Project holds a limited supply of starter packs which contain some basic commodities to assist those who are homeless when they first move into new accommodation, and which are allocated on a discretionary basis.

The Projects office is situated at the Marlene Reid Centre, 85, Belvoir Road, Coalville LE67 3PH, telephone 01530 510515 and is open week-day mornings from 9.00am to 12.30pm. Do drop in if you are homeless or about to become so and require assistance, or just for a chat if you would like more information about the Project. Alternatively, the Co-ordinator can be contacted by e-mail at the following address: lbwistle@googlemail.com.

Lesley Birtwistle
Project Co-ordinator