Westminster City Council is to give priority points to clients on Vital Regeneration’s Homelessness and Employment Project (HELP).  These changes came into place on 1st October and represent a significant change to the Housing Allocation's Policy in the City of Westminster.

HELP clients who have engaged on the project for a minimum of 2 years will qualify for the additional 50 points to acknowledge their commitment to finding employment.  Clients who have been in work for two years can also receive 50 points.  In both instances clients can get a further 50 points if they have a ten year residence connection in Westminster.

Emma Winter, HELP Project Manager says; “The new housing allocation policy is very good news, awarding our clients these additional points will help them towards obtaining secure accommodation and will further encourage them to look for work and stay in work.  We hope this new incentive will inspire others to join HELP, so they too can benefit our service". 
HELP client, Juan Escobar, works shifts as a maintenance worker at a local office development near his home in Queen's Park.  He currently lives in self contained temporary accommodation with his family of three.  They have been on the housing list for more than two years now and are desperate to move into a permanent home.

Juan recently featured in the Guardian talking about his situation.  Not surprisingly, Juan thinks the promise of further points in recognition of his work ethic is an "excellent idea".  He is quoted as saying "You have to help yourself before you should expect others to help you”.

When asked by the Guardian; What if, through no fault of your own, you lost your job tomorrow? Juan replied: "That happened, when the project I came here to work on suddenly folded, I was out the next day looking for something else.  You have to be flexible and strong enough to take whatever job you can find."

Jonathan Glanz, Westminster’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Corporate Property also featured saying "Some 68% of tenants in social housing in the borough aren't working compared to 45% a decade ago.  Our aim is to redress this imbalance".

Vital Regeneration’s HELP Project works with Westminster Housing Options Service (HOS) to support around 130 people a year.  Once an individual presents as homeless, they may then be placed in temporary accommodation, either in a hostel or in Bed & Breakfast accommodation.  Clients are referred to HELP at this early stage to give them support in finding training, volunteering and employment opportunities centred around their housing situation. 

Ends

Notes to Editor:
 
Vital Regeneration is a registered charity.  For more information about Vital Regeneration please visit www.vitalregeneration.org to view our 2010 Annual report Vital Regeneration 2010 Annual Report (Please follow link).
 
For press enquiries and images please contact rash@vitalregen.org 
 
For more information on HELP please contact:
 
Emma Winter
HELP Manager
Vital Regeneration
31 Plympton Street
London
NW8 8AB
Tel: 020 7193 5168
Mobile: 07930 563591