L&Q support service expanded

L&Q’s internal support service is being expanded this month to cover all four of our new neighbourhood areas following a hugely successful pilot period.
Ten officers from the Supported Living department will work across the neighbourhoods supporting general needs residents who are at risk of losing their tenancies.
Residents can be referred to KIT by tenancy services or revenue teams for:

• Rent arrears - at any level
• Low-level anti-social behaviour
• Access for maintenance
• Resettlement support/sustaining tenancies

The KIT officers will work with residents for three to nine months to support them in keeping their tenancies. At any time an officer will support around 20 residents, visiting them fortnightly to provide the support.
Support Team Leader Lucy Woodbine said: “KIT has proved a huge success in the boroughs where it is currently working: Greenwich, Lambeth, Newham and Waltham Forest. The expansion enables more L&Q residents to benefit from the KIT service.”
In order to offer a wide range of support, KIT staff build up links with external agencies like Community Mental Health Teams, drug and alcohol services, Social Services, Sure Starts, Primary Care Trusts, Housing Benefit and other welfare benefit agencies. There is also a close working relationship with L&Q’s revenue and tenancy services teams in the neighbourhoods.
Since KIT began in July 2007 it has worked with nearly 150 residents, achieving a success rate of more than 90 per cent in terms of reducing rent arrears, reducing complaints of ASB, etc.
Lucy added: “There is no typical KIT client, we have worked with young people, older people, those with mental health problems, drug and alcohol recovery, domestic violence resettlement, just to name a few.”

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