1. Shelter Merseyside “Supporting Families in Housing Need”
Jo Lamb, Team Leader
Merseyside Family Support Service

2. About Shelter
Established in 1966, Shelter are in their 50th year. We are recognised as a specialist housing advice and support provider. Each year we support millions of people to keep, access and improve their housing.
In Liverpool we have the following services that families in housing need can access:
Information Resource Centre (IRC)
Advice Support & Guidance Team(ASG)
Legal Services
Merseyside Family Support Service
Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that one day, no one will have to turn to us for help.
We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.
In Liverpool we have the following services that residents and of course veterans and their families can access:
Specialist Housing, Debt, Benefit and Welfare Advice
Specialist Legal Advice
Specialist Family Support Service
Information & Resources Centre
Veterans are a particular strategic priority for us in Liverpool and we are committed to working closely with partners to address the issues faced by veterans in the city. We have been successfully holding drop in sessions at Liverpool Veterans HQ on Breck Road, ensuring that clients that present with housing, debt or benefit issues are addressed. Due to the successful links developed as part of this pilot, we are looking to roll out advice and support in supported accommodation in Liverpool for veterans.
We are currently awaiting a decision for a full time support worker to specifically work with ex service men and women, to address their housing issues. This service will offer six month support, holistically addressing the needs of the whole family, to make a lasting impact.
In this presentation I will firstly paint a picture of the housing needs and wider needs that veterans face. I’ll then explain a bit about Shelter and describe the services that Shelter offers to meet these needs in partnership with other agencies in the city. 2

3. Housing Issues Facing Families
Exclusion from Property Pool Plus
Unaffordable Housing
Low Priority Need
Lack of Social Housing
Disrepair & Poor Quality of Housing Provision
Veterans face housing issues when leaving the forces due to a number of factors including:
Unaffordable housing and a lack of good quality housing: House prices are unaffordable for many and the amount of good quality housing available is outweighed by demand.
Low priority need for social housing: We know that around 90% of military personnel are men that are predominately white, therefore we assume that the veteran population will be around this amount. Single men are seen as a low priority for housing, which means that they may have to wait for a number of years to be able to access social housing (Depending on area). This means that veterans are at risk of not being able to access their own independent accommodation, unless they have the finances available to access the private rented sector.
Private rented sector: The private rented sector itself is unregulated and as a result often low quality and insecure as a housing option.
Rent arrears 3

4. Disrepair & Poor Quality of Housing

5. Wider Issues Affecting Families
Limited employment opportunities
Social isolation
Benefit delays or sanctions
Offending behaviour
Drug & Alcohol Addiction
Lack of budgeting & money management skills
Veterans face multiple wider issues that often combine to exacerbate housing needs, leading to the threat of homelessness. The threat of homelessness can then further exacerbate the wider issues that veterans face leading to a vicious circle occurring.
Wider issues include:
Jo, I recommend that you talk to the slide here and just talk about some of the wider issues that you know veterans can suffer. The alternative is to talk through a case study of someone that has all of these needs that the service has dealt with recently?
Some ideas of what to say to some of the points below…..
Living Skills: Veterans that have left the forces may lack the appropriate living skills to manage their tenancies effectively. Setting up utility bills, cleaning, managing appointments, budgeting and cooking skills are some of the issues that vulnerable veterans may face. It has been reported that more low level support is needed for clients to ensure their issues do not escalate.
Drug & Alcohol addiction: We know from research carried out that 35% of clients with PTSD will have significant alcohol issues. Complex needs has a sever impact on homelessness and repeat homelessness.
Mental Health: Research also shows that PTSD may present 3-5 years after returning from duty, and therefore considerations should be given to availability of support to maintain welfare as of when circumstances change.
Offending: Offending behavior of some veterans can have a significant impact on their quality of life and on their families.
Finance – Upon leaving services, managing finances for veterans can be a real issue. Due to the nature of the forces, they may never have managed bills, finances or ever applied for benefits. Upon leaving, the wait for finances can prove to be a real risk and struggle for veterans and their families. Support is needed to address these issues to ensure issues of this nature are avoided. This can have a real impact on veterans ability to access housing and avoiding debt.
Domestic Abuse
Mental health issues 5

6. Shelter’s Response Information Resource Centre (IRC):
Provides people with the resources to address their own housing issues with limited advice/ support. E.g. searching for properties
Advice, Support & Guidance Team (ASG):
Provides people with confidential and impartial Housing, Welfare Benefit and Debt advice. E.g. advising someone on their housing rights following a relationship breakdown
Shelter Legal Services:
Provides legal advice and court representation in housing cases. E.g. challenging an illegal eviction

7. Merseyside Family Support Service
Merseyside wide service but areas of priority are Liverpool, Knowsley & Sefton
Allocated Support Worker provides support to families in their own home and community
Focus on early intervention & prevention to ensure families do not get into a “Cycle of Homelessness” which limits their future housing options
Resettlement support provided to ensure families have the knowledge, skills and understanding to manage and sustain their home in the long term and prevent repeat homelessness
Short term coordination support provided to families referred at crisis point to ensure they are accessing the most appropriate services

8. Accessing Shelter Advice & Support
Call into the Shelter Drop in:
Tuesday 10am- 1pm
Wednesday 1pm- 4pm
Thursday 10am- 1pm
(3rd Floor, Colonial Chambers, Temple Street, Liverpool, L2 5RH)
Call us on Monday- Friday from 9am- 5pm
Complete a referral to the Family Support Team and it to

9. Thank You