Currently people have to go to several different places to find the advice they need to make realistic decisions about where to live.
The trailblazers intend to change this approach by providing advice on the full range of housing options from social housing to shared ownership to privately rented properties, linking this with wider employment-related advice to ensure that people are fully informed and able to make the right choice for their individual circumstances. Each of the trailblazers will get up to £350,000 to develop their housing advice services, making links to employment advice and other services in accordance with their locally identified needs. The funding will enable local authorities to create advice services tailored to the needs of their local area and local clients, away from the one size fits all approach.
Bournemouth Council plans to develop support and advice on CV writing and life skills to help those in supported housing. Other trailblazers plan to offer IT lessons or hold a weekly job club at the housing office, enabling people to learn about their housing options while brushing up on skills such as CV writing, interview skills and job search assistance.
The twelve trailblazers will also take on a mentoring role; sharing best practice and support with around 20 councils that will receive funding to kick start their own enhanced housing options schemes in 2009/ 2010.
