1. Enhanced Housing Options at Kettering

2.  A new HomeMove service for under-occupying tenants  A new LifePlan programme to link our customers to training, educational and employment opportunities  An enhanced life skills training programme  An expanded housing options toolkit for people with mental health problems, young people and ex-offenders

3. HomeMove  Providing practical and financial support to tenants wishing to downsize  HomeMove was launched at the end of July 2009  Marketing and advertising campaign covering all Council tenants  Incentives are based on a points scheme  Removals - 9 points  Packing - 7 points  Utilities – 1 point  Mail – 1 point

4. HomeMove  At the end of September 53 tenants were registered (27 were as a result of a marketing letter sent to Council tenants)  Since 1 April 2009 – 8 tenants have been assisted to downsize  Our target is to assist 35 households per annum to downsize

5. LifePlan  Helping customers to overcome the barriers that prevent them from getting a job, starting training or volunteering  Open to Housing Options customers & Council tenants  LifePlan was launched at the end of July 2009  At the end of September, 29 people are registered and in regular contact with the LifePlan Advisor

6. LifePlan  LifePlan Interviews  Skills analysis and work experience  Motivational one-to-ones  Life skills courses  Writing CVs  Job Search and applying for jobs  Supported visits to partner agencies  Linking to health services  Family support

7. Enhancing our life skills training courses  Move On, Move In – life skills training for young homeless people and new tenants under the age of 25.  64 people have graduated and only two failed tenanacies  Course 9 begins in October  New Opportunities, New Skills – life skills training for older, vulnerable tenants.  Course 3 will begin in October.  Working with RSL’s to deliver a tenancy training course for their new tenants

8. Expanding our housing options toolkit  More housing options and better outcomes for:  Ex-offenders  People with poor mental health and learning difficulties  Young people

9. Expanding our housing options toolkit

10.  It’s all about:  Communicating better  Understanding better  Procedures and referrals  More housing options  Improving the customer experience  More than just housing

11. Some Emerging Issues  HomeMove  Many tenants want to downsize but there’s a shortfall in the number of suitable properties  Joint working with housing associations to increase supply?  LifePlan  Need for lifeskills training specifically for gypsies and travellers  LifePlan Advisor gets drawn into wider tenancy sustainment issues  Supporting People funding for a new tenancy sustainment post?

12. Next steps  Communicating and understanding better - Running homelessness and housing options training for partner agencies including Citizens Advice Bureaux, Probation, HM Prison Service, Community Mental Health Team, Youth Offending Team, voluntary agencies, RSL’s  Procedures and referrals – New MAPPA procedures  More housing options – More housing options for young people including a supported lodgings scheme and supported accommodation for teenage parents  Improving the customer experience - Introducing personal action plans for Housing Options customers  More than just housing – Developing taster life skills training courses

13. Enhanced Housing Options at Kettering Any Questions?