Arun

Arun District Council can help people find accommodation in the private rented sector in order to prevent homelessness.

The Bond Scheme helps by offering a bond (or guarantee) to landlords as security instead of a deposit.  It gives you chance to save the deposit money up over time, rather than finding it up front. You must pay regular, agreed installments into the bond to save the value of the guaranteed bond by the end of the tenancy.

A Bond will only be given to people who qualify for assistance, and have been given approval by the Housing Services Manager.  To qualify for the scheme you must fulfil all the following criteria.

You must be:

• Imminently threatened with losing your present accommodation.
• Locally connected to the Arun area
• Considered to be in a priority category: i.e.
• You or the person you normally live with is pregnant or
• You have dependant children who would normally live with you or
• You or the person you normally would live with are considered to be vulnerable as a result of old age, mental illness or handicap, physical disability or other special reason
• You are homeless or threatened with homelessness as a result of an emergency e.g. flood, fire or other disaster
• In addition you will have to demonstrate that you do not have access to any funds to secure alternative accommodation. You may be asked to provide recent bank or building society statements, savings account statements etc. Proof of income will be required as well.

Contact the Housing Options Team on 01903 737500.

Homelink

If you are homeless but not considered to be in Priority Need an organisation called Homelink may be able to help.

Homelink is a charity set up to enable some homeless people within the Arun District to become private tenants with a deposit guarantee. However there is a list of restrictions as to who Homelink can help, the following is a list of the main criteria but it is not complete.

An applicant to Homelink must be:

• Over 18 year's old and under 65 years old.
• Single.
• Homeless or in insecure accommodation.
• Capable of Independent Living.
• Unable to raise the necessary deposit to secure accommodation.
• Without a conviction for arson, or any serious violent crime. Be connected with Arun District (lived 6 months within the area) or have relatives within the area.

You can make an application to Homelink via the Housing Needs Unit at Arun District Council Housing Department based at Church Street, Littlehampton or via Bognor Town Hall, Clarence Road, Bognor Regis.

The Social Fund

The Department of Work and Pensions operates the Social Fund. They will not help with deposits; however you may be able to apply for assistance with rent in advance. There are two types of interest free loan that could help you pay the rent in advance. Which kind you are most likely to get will depend on your situation.

Budgeting Loan

To get a Budgeting Loan, you or your partner must have been in receipt of Income Support or income based Jobseeker's Allowance for at least 26 weeks.

Crisis Loan

You do not have to be claiming any benefits to be eligible for a Crisis Loan but you will have to be able to pay back the loan. You do need to be at least 16 years old.

If your application to the Social Fund is turned down or you are not happy with any decision made on your application you can ask for a review.