Is your housing causing you problems
Advice is just a phone call away!
The Highland Homeless Advice Line is being run by Citizens Advice Direct, a member of Scotland’s Citizens Advice Bureau network that has already pioneered telephone advice in Glasgow with great success.
As well as help and information on housing issues, the advice line will help callers on related matters such as debt, benefits and employment.
Every year more people in the Highlands have no where to live, last year 2,050 households applied as homeless to Highland Council.
“The help on offer will be useful to anyone wherever they live in the Highlands, whatever their housing circumstances and whatever type of housing situation they are facing”, says Laura McCaig, Housing Advice Officer for Citizens Advice Direct. “Good quality advice plays a key role in helping people deal with housing crises and also preventing homelessness in the first place,” she said. “We know that sometimes people’s housing difficulties are caused by other issues such as money problems, so we are able to offer advice on matters such as debt, benefits and employment. And we’ll also help people to get assistance from other organisations who can provide specialist help.”
“The telephone advice line will complement the work of traditional Citizens Advice Bureaux and the Council” stresses Laura.
“You can still drop into your local CAB or housing office for assistance. But we have found in Glasgow that some problems – especially straightforward information-giving - can be just as effectively dealt with over the phone. So these two aspects of the CAB network will complement each other and add up to an even better service for the Highlands.”
The advice line will also be very helpful for people living in rural communities and those who can’t easily get access to advice services.
Homelessness is a huge problem in the Highlands. In 2003/2004, there was a 48 per cent increase on the previous year, the largest of any local authority in Scotland. By comparison, in Scotland overall homelessness rose by six per cent.
House prices across the Highlands have been rising to record levels over the past few years. Seasonal and part-time work leaves many people less able to compete in the housing market, while the high level of second/holiday home-ownership means many houses aren’t accessible to the local population. The ‘Right to Buy’ legislation has also had a significant impact in the Highlands - almost half of housing the council had in 1981 has been sold. Many Highland communities now have little or no social rented housing stock, while tenancies through housing associations remain limited. Nonetheless, there are a wide range of housing options that are available. This advice line can help people find the housing choice that is most appropriate for them.
Councillor Margaret Davidson, Chair of The Highland Council’s Housing and Social Work Committee said: “Work to reduce homelessness and improve services for those who find themselves homeless are two of our key priorities and the Highland Housing Advice Line will help us do this. Tackling homelessness is not just about providing housing although this is crucial. We need to make sure that people can access advice, practical support and other services so that they are given the best possible chance of solving their problems and keeping their homes once they are housed.”
The new Highland Homeless Advice Line is being funded by Homepoint, Highland Council and Citizens Advice Direct, and will work in conjunction with the council, Highland Advice and Information Network and other agencies.
* The number for the Highland Homeless Advice Line is Free Phone 0808 801 0804 (calls charged at normal rates).
For further information, contact LAURA McCAIG on 0141 553 5548
Notes for News Editors
1. The Highland Council area covers roughly one-third of the Scottish landmass (26,484 square-km) - an area close to the size of Belgium. Across the area, the average population density is the lowest in Scotland, with eight persons per sq-km - compared with a Scottish average of 66 persons per sq-km
2. In 2003-2004 there was a 48 per cent increase on the previous year of households applying as homeless. The increase in homelessness applications in the Highlands has been the largest of any local authority in Scotland. In comparison, in Scotland, homelessness rose by six per cent in 2003-2004