Homelink
Ammanuel's Story
"I lost my flat and I was staying at a friend's place and he told me about Homelink. Before, I had been working as a traffic warden. I was depressed and I lost my job so I couldn't keep up with my rent payments and they asked me to leave.
I was sleeping on floors, sleeping on sofas, staying in some squats. Moving about sucks because you don't have a base. You're trying to go on with your life but if you're sleeping on a sofa, you end up in the same clothes, you become less confident so you're less successful.
I called Homelink and spoke to the administrator, who was really nice. Homelink accepted me, went through the paperwork and then my housing officer said, "It's good to go, up to you."
Homelink enables single homeless people to find and keep homes in the private rented sector
Single homeless people are described as 'non-priority' and fall into a trap: they cannot afford the deposit or rent in advance for a private flat, but they are placed at the bottom of long waiting lists for social housing. 
We provide the link between these people and the home that they need, giving the landlord and bond guarantee in place of a deposit. In this way, people who otherwise would be living in hostels, or sleeping on the sofas of their friends and families, can choose their own flat.
Nothing is more important than a stable, secure place to live, especially if other reasons have contributed to a person's homelessness. Homelink acts as a mediator between people and the landlord or housing benefit offices, providing advice and support with paperwork and contracts. We also offer one to one tenancy support, building on people's skills and strengths to help them remain in secure accommodation. Just because people have experienced homelessness, this doesn't mean that they're not strong, resilient and resourceful.
To speak to a Homelink housing officer, call 020 8983 5060. |
