jocelle lovell - project manager wales co-operative centre … events/tai 2013/jo lovell... ·...
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Jocelle Lovell - Project Manager
Wales Co-operative Centre
Jocelle.lovell@walescooperative.org
02920 556193/07787437712
Welfare Reform
• Welfare benefit reform will mean that those on state
benefits will see a reduction in income and fundamental
changes in the way they receive their income
• More people with less money
• Both working and non working households will be affected
Potential Impact
• Increase rent arrears
• Increased evictions across private & social housing
• Higher demand on public services i.e. health,
homelessness
• Higher demand on third sector support & advice services
• Increase in people using payday loans and illegal money
lenders
• More people at risk of financial abuse.
Financial inclusion
• More important now than ever before
• Enabling people to manage their money
• Access to appropriate & responsible financial services
• Empower people to take control of their lives
• Providing people with information to make informed
choices.
• Understanding the consequences.
• Protecting & supporting the most vulnerable in society.
What can we do?
• Raise awareness of welfare reform (forums, accessibility)
• Develop partnerships to support tenants/service users
• Sign post to appropriate/qualified advice
• Sharing knowledge & best practice
• Financial capability & access to services
• Up skill support workers to meet changing needs of
service users??
Projects that can help.
• Tackling Homelessness through Financial
inclusion (THFI)
• Money Made Clear Wales
• Work It Out.
THFI
To support Landlords and Tenants to
maintain tenancies using a Credit Union
Rent Account
So preventing homelessness…encourage
people to engage in financial inclusion
support and access appropriate &
responsible financial products and
services.
How
Project team –
• Facilitating partnerships between LA’s, private landlords, tenants & credit unions
Online resources -
• http://www.walescooperative.org/thfitoolkit
Focus on the private rented sector
(PRS) ……….why? • Estimated that 1 in 5 households will be privately
renting by 2016
• PRS tenants don’t benefit from the support that
others do
• PRS tenants are not easily accessed
• PRS has less interaction with between tenant &
landlord
• Under UC private landlords will no longer be paid
under safeguarding
Current Practice
LA pays housing
benefits
Tenant receives
Benefit
Household
Priorities
Rent Loan
Energy
Bills Food
Other
Items
Other income
Proposed Model
Benefit is paid Credit Union Rent
Account
Benefit paid to
Landlord by CU
Tenant accesses CU
Benefits
Benefits to Landlords
• Helps Protect Rental Income
• Mitigates against costly arrears/eviction process
• No need for Tenant Arrears or Safeguard
Assessment
• No risk of overpayment
• Helps maintain tenancies
Benefits to Tenants
• Supports budgeting
• Credit Union benefits:
– Affordable Credit
– Savings
– Advice/Support
• Mitigates against high cost credit and Loan Sharks
• Constant through Welfare Benefit Reform
Universal Credit
One monthly payment in
arrears
‘Household’ receives Benefit
Household Priorities
Rent Loan
Energy Bills
Food Other Items
Moneymadeclearwales.com
• The website that combines a Financial Information Site
and Financial Capability Hub.
• The Financial Information Site will allow easy access to
the tools, advice and support needed to break down the
barriers to financial exclusion.
• The Financial Capability Hub is a members area of the
website which is a powerful resource for use by those
organisations involved in the promotion and support of
Financial Inclusion. Here members can share information
and resources and communicate via an online forum.
Helping people to help themselves.
WEBSITE FEATURES CAPABILITY HUB INFORMATION SITE
Loan Comparison Tool Resources Your Money
Different Loans Info Case Studies Savings
Your Stories Newsfeed Loans
Webinars Info Sharing Debt Advice
Q&A Q&A
Useful Help
Group work!
Split into 3 groups discuss pro’s & con’s of the
project and feedback the following:
What you like about the project
Areas you think can be improved
What action you will take to support each project
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