More than 370 Brighton and Hove City Council tenants are collectively £350,000 better off after being given free financial advice.
The council said that the free money advice service had enabled them to obtain unclaimed or additional benefits, charitable payments and savings on household bills. Some debts had been written off or rescheduled.
The advice was provided by the council’s Housing Inclusion Team, which was created in October last year.
It was set up to offer financial help and advice to the significant number of tenants affected by changes to the benefit system brought in by the coalition government.
The team has been working with the Money Advice and Community Support Service (MACS) since the spring to coincide with the introduction of the welfare reforms.
The council’s annual report to tenants and leaseholders includes case studies detailing how the team’s work has helped them cope with financial difficulties. The council said that given the sensitivity of their situation they are anonymous.
One is reported as saying: “Some of my bills were becoming unmanageable. I contacted Housing Inclusion. They worked together with MACS and I can now pay my bills with the money I am getting. They were very, very helpful.”
Another said: “I had been having problems with my water bill. Housing Inclusion and MACS did a tremendous amount of work to negotiate payments that I could afford. That’s been a great help.”
And another said: “I needed help with money in a number of areas. The help I had was great and I feel so much better for having sorted things out.”
Councillor Bill Randall, the chairman of the council’s Housing Committee, said: “The government’s changes to housing benefit are having a profound effect on many of our low-income tenants.
“It’s essential that we collect rents that pay for housing services but we always work with those tenants who can’t pay the rent to overcome their difficulties.
“The Housing Inclusion Team with MACS has answered a growing need for financial advice and guidance and is bringing timely relief, support and help to so many of our tenants and residents.”
Anyone struggling with budgets or affected by benefit changes can contact MACS on 01273 664000.
