What is the PPP  Joint Project between Southwark Law Centre and Blackfriars Advice Centre  Aim to reduce the number of evictions and homelessness by early intervention & policy work.  Funded by the Legal Services Commission for 3 years.  Covers the borough of Southwark

Early intervention  Identifying who tenants first contact when they have a housing problem.  Local knowledge  County Court survey  Direct contact with tenants  BME agencies  Keeping an open mind

Early intervention  Providing training to organisations in Housing law.  To date over 44 agencies trained  Over 110 individuals  Including the CAB, Credit Union, Multi- cultural agencies and more

Early intervention  First training course concentrated on Council tenancies (Secure/Introductory & Non-secure)  Focused on immediate steps to take at various stages of the eviction process.  Effective referrals.  2 nd tier advice  Encouraging court attendance by tenants  Southwark Housing Lawyers Group

Early intervention  The second wave of training is on Private tenancies (Assured, Assured Shorthold, Rent Act & Non-Secure Tenancies).  Consider immediate steps to take.  Build upon effective referrals.  Improve and monitor 2 nd tier advice  Court attendance

Early intervention  2 nd Tier advice  Agencies appreciate that their knowledge is limited.  Encouraged to contact Southwark Law Centre for telephone advice.  PPP now considering supervision of agencies case work.  PPP considering keeping workshops where agencies can discuss problematic cases.

Early intervention  Effective referrals and SHLG  What is SHLG.  Why was it needed.  How has it helped referrals  Wider implications of SHLG

Policy work National Level Promote ODPM research and guidance Promote national research into causes of rent arrears and social costs of homelessness. Encourage best practice guidance on rent arrears. Provide consolidated response to Civil Justice Council’s consultation on the rent arrears protocol.

Policy work Local Level Engaging with other voluntary sector organisation. Making and sustaining contact with key members in the Local Authority. Rent Income team Housing Benefit managers Homelessness services

Policy work Local Level PPP Good Practice Report for rent arrears management. Direct Deductions from Benefit. Tolerated trespasser Standard letters re: rent arrears

Policy work Housing Benefit issues and rent arrears SHLG participating in Policy issues Liaison with Local County Court Promoting the Duty Solicitor Scheme Contributing to the Homelessness Strategy

Next steps Continue to train agencies in housing law Provide supervision of these agencies Provide workshops for these agencies Promote 2 nd tier advice

Next steps Increase referrals More focus on the causes of rent arrears Develop policies with Housing Association and Private landlords

Next steps Monitor the effects of policy initiatives Monitor the effects of training Secure funding for the PPP Examine becoming self funding Consider cross borough projects Examine national training strategy