Tenancy Support

Areas of support

The team works closely with a wide range of partners including health, Social Services and specialist providers to help individuals and families gain the skills to live independently, sustain their tenancy, prevent evictions and homelessness.

Our partnership working is essential to ensure barriers are removed, and consistent support is provided to access a range of services.

Support is 'one-to-one' from an advisor who helps individuals and families who have recently become homeless or are starting a new tenancy. 

The advisor helps individuals and families to:

• understand and manage their tenancy;
• complete budget plans;
• apply for discretionary housing payments;
• manage new licence accounts;
• access education, training and employment;
• complete forms including welfare benefits applications;
• access services such as GPs, schools, banks and credit union; and
• bid for properties.

The advisor also has other duties:

• Meet new tenants and assess for support and debt advice.
• Safeguard vulnerable adults and children.
• Refer to a children's centre where a child in the household is under 5 years.
• Liaise with community mental health and special needs.
• Empower the person to access services.
• Promote independent life skills by signposting to training.
• Refer and support for debt and benefit advice.
• Analyse agency housing referrals and support plans.
• Write recommendation reports for priority housing.

Debt Advice Support

Our Debt Advice and Support Worker can offer you help or advice on your eligibility for welfare benefits or to provide support with any financial difficulties you may be having. This could include appealing decisions, negotiating repayments to creditors and making sure the correct benefits are being paid to you.

To contact the Debt Advice and Support worker please call 01438 242666 or email Welfare.Benefit@stevenage.gov.uk.

Your Tenancy Advisor, Income Advisor or Lettings Advisor can make a referral on your behalf.