Housing Services

Post-Transfer Arrangements

From 1st August 2007, the Council will be implementing a new structure for the Housing Service.  The Cabinet has agreed a new structure in light of tenants voting in favour of the Councils housing stock being transferred to a newly formed housing association. The impending transfer to Monmouthshire Housing does not alter the Council’s responsibilities as the housing authority and it will, therefore, continue to deliver the statutory and strategic housing functions. The transfer is scheduled to go through in the autumn.  The transitional period will give the new Housing Service time to become fully operational.

The Housing Service will be made up of four teams. The main change that  service users and partners will see is the establishment of a Housing Options Team that will focus on preventing homelessness. Strategic Services, Housing Grants and Supporting People Teams make up the remainder of the Service.

Housing Services will be headed up by a County Housing Manager – Ian Bakewell.  Working closely with Councillor Brian Hood, Cabinet Member for  Social & Housing Services, Ian will build upon the excellent foundations laid by the former Head of Housing John Keegan and David Morris, Acting Head of Housing, to continue improving housing services in the County and develop new partnerships. 

Ian and his colleagues are looking forward to working with all partner organisations as we enter this new and exciting period.

If any partner or client organisation feels that they would benefit from having a briefing on any part of the new Housing Service, we would be pleased to arrange that for  them.
Either contact the manager of the specific team or for a “whole” service presentation contact Ian Bakewell.

Housing Grants

The Grants Team works with partners to ensure that vulnerable members of the community have homes which are safe to live in, suitably adapted to their specific needs, and which can be adequately heated at reasonable cost. Our client groups are varied but in particular include individuals suffering with disabilities and/or those experiencing fuel poverty. Through the use of local authority and partnership funds we are able to offer grant aid to ensure that the community's most vulnerable people are safe and warm in their homes. Currently our primary aims are:

• To ensure maximum value and take up of disabled facilities grants by
  those most in need of them, and
• To provide "affordable warmth" to occupiers of low efficiency properties whose heating costs exceed 10% of their disposable income.

Manager: John Parfitt: 01873 735428
Location: Coed Glas, Abergavenny
Contact: Via any of the One Stop Shops

Strategic Services

The main role of the Strategic Services Team is to develop and implement the Local Housing Strategy and to co-ordinate new Housing Services initiatives. The priorities that the Team will focus upon are:

• Increase the supply of affordable housing
• Preventing homelessness and reducing the use of temporary accommodation
• Helping people live at home safely and independently
• Involving citizens in strategic housing development

Through partnership arrangements, key initiatives that the Team will take forward include the Housing Partnership; working with other Partnerships such as
the Community Safety Partnership and the Children’s and Young Persons Partnership; working with the local Housing Associations and establishing initiatives to encourage property owners to become private landlords.

Location: County Hall, Cwmbran
Contact: 01633 644644
Manager: Ian Bakewell 01633 644479

Housing Options Team

The Housing Options Team will be the new access point for people who needs housing advice and assistance. It will no longer be the responsibility of the council’s area housing teams, who are shortly due to transfer over to Monmouthshire Housing Association.

The Housing Options Team will be responsible for finding housing solutions for people who are experiencing housing related problems and the aim will be to prevent these people from becoming homeless. To achieve this, the Team will work closely with a variety of partners, both internal and external, particularly support and mediation organisations. The team will also be responsible for the traditional homeless function of the Council as well as the provision of temporary accommodation.

Priorities that the team will be focusing upon include:

• Developing a proactive approach to tackling housing problems and preventing homelessness
• Establishing links and early ‘triggers’ to ensure people at risk of becoming homeless can receive assistance from the Team. Improving the provision of accommodation within the Private Sector links.

The Team is keen to have any one referred experiencing a housing issue or to hear from you if you are aware of anyone experiencing a housing problem or a problem, such as debt or substance misuse, that may have an impact upon their housing circumstances.

We are focused on finding solutions to client’s housing problems in order to sustain them in their current tenancy or to move them seamlessly to other accommodation. Our aim is that our clients will not need to go via the traditional route of becoming a homeless applicant and having the upheaval and uncertainty of homelessness. We will, however in emergency situation and cases where absolutely no other suitable and sustainable solution can be reached still carry out the traditional homeless function to provide that safeguard.

Location: High Trees, Chepstow
Manager: Toby Baxter: 01291 635714
Contact: via any One Stop Shops or directly on 01291 635714

Supporting People

The role of the Supporting People Team is to enable and support vulnerable
people gain and retain their independence by remaining in their own homes. In addition to providing support to client groups such as older people, learning difficulties and mental health problems, the team is integral to meeting the Council’s agenda for preventing homelessness and will work particularly closely with the Housing Options Team. There are two units within the Supporting People Team

The Strategic Unit is responsible for the strategic planning of Supporting People projects; for all aspects of commissioning services; monitoring operational
standards; billing and the financial assessment for supporting people benefit.

The Housing Support Unit provides support to people having difficulties in maintaining their homes, or having problems finding accommodation within a number of projects and will work closely with the Housing Options Team. The following services are currently available to people of all ages, and in all types of properties:

• Trothwy Cyf Floating Support Crisis service (Crisis)
• Monmouthshire County Council Housing Support Service
• Monmouthshire County Council Low Level Housing Support
• Monmouthshire Supported Housing Project
• Abergavenny Mind Two Supported Housing Projects

Location: Woodlands at Mamhilad
Contact: Via any of the One Stop Shops.
Manager: Rufus Noy – 01495 768254

And finally…..

All in Housing Services are particularly looking forward to creating a dynamic and unique relationship with Monmouthshire Housing and would like to take this opportunity of wishing the staff and board of Monmouthshire Housing all the very best for the future.