Welfare Reform Team Evaluation of European Social Fund pilot project 2014-2015
welfare_reform_european_social_fund_project_evaluation_report
welfare_reform_european_social_fund_project_evaluation_report
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Laurence<br />
We helped Laurence as part <strong>of</strong> a Back To Work initiative we developed with Oxford<br />
Homeless Pathways to support homeless people moving from benefits into sustainable<br />
work.<br />
Laurence had been homeless since he was 17 and had spent nearly six years living in hostels.<br />
He was living in O’Hanlon House night shelter when he started an apprenticeship with our<br />
Parks department in March <strong>2015</strong>.<br />
The combination <strong>of</strong> high hostel rent and lower housing benefit personal allowances for<br />
under 25s meant that Laurence was having to find nearly £65 a week towards his rent.<br />
Although we do not usually meet means tested shortfalls, we agreed to give Laurence a DHP<br />
to pay this. In return, Laurence agreed to save towards a deposit for private rented<br />
accommodation.<br />
When Laurence found private rented accommodation in May through our Home Choice<br />
scheme, we spoke to Laurence’s hostel support worker and our Parks department and<br />
agreed to extend his DHP award.<br />
Laurence had no qualifications and had been homeless for six years, and we wanted to<br />
support him into independent living and sustainable work, so we agreed to pay DHP to meet<br />
his means tested benefit shortfall for the rest <strong>of</strong> the financial year. Laurence would only<br />
need to pay £11 a week towards his rent out <strong>of</strong> his apprentice’s wages.<br />
Unfortunately, after eight months in his apprenticeship, Laurence lost his job, gave up his<br />
tenancy and returned to the streets. He is now living back in the night shelter and is claiming<br />
JSA again.<br />
Nasir<br />
Many <strong>of</strong> our cases involve long term support to help our customers back into work, but this<br />
is not always the case. Sometimes all anyone needs is the right advice at the right time.<br />
Nasir and his partner were expecting their fifth child when they applied for a DHP in late<br />
April <strong>2015</strong>. They had not long moved into a four bedroom house, but were only entitled to<br />
claim for three bedrooms until their baby was born. This meant that their housing benefit<br />
was nearly £90 a week short <strong>of</strong> covering their rent.<br />
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