Helping MACS provide the right housing support

Eva Koerner, project manager at MACS, describes how their organisation has benefited from sending their employees on Housing Rights Housing Advice Training Programme. The Housing Advice Training Programme is a 4 day course that provides participants with a housing advice practitioner qualification on completion. 

MACS Supporting Young People has been providing housing support for 25 years to young people 16-25.  We provide supported accommodation to care leavers and young homeless, while floating support offers help to young people who are at risk of homelessness, are homeless, or who need help in maintaining accommodation.

Equipping the MACS team through Housing Rights Training Courses

In order to provide quality housing support to young people, it is essential that MACs teams are equipped with relevant knowledge and skills. Housing Rights courses have become a core part of MACS training and invaluable in helping us support young people. 

“Housing Rights training provides a strong knowledge base to work from and allows us to individually tailor our housing support.”

Staff member, MACS

Young people will find themselves homeless through relationship breakdown or difficulties at home. It is not uncommon for them to be amongst the hidden homeless, sofa surfing between different friends homes. Housing Rights training provides an understanding of how the homeless legislation operates in practice,  the processes of presenting as homeless and what young people can expect, as well as what they are entitled to.  Trained teams feel more confident in writing letters of support in relation to points and providing evidence to prove homelessness and priority need. They are aware of how to secure additional points, have a sound knowledge of the common selection scheme, and are competent in the use of the tools provided in the training.

With an increase in the number of 16-17 year olds  presenting as homeless, the training gives MACS Housing Support Workers knowledge on the relevant legislation. They are able to ensure the Health Trusts are following their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of young people in need. With this knowledge we have been able to ensure young people are provided with temporary accommodation where there has been a Trust duty. 

“We are more confident in challenging decisions based on the information provided through Housing Rights training”.

Staff member, MACS

In addition to the training, MACS teams would regularly liaise with Housing Rights staff on their advice line. The Housing Rights team is highly skilled and help MACS staff clarify specific aspects of housing support which need that additional level of expertise.

Overall we cannot speak highly enough of the quality of training provided by Housing Rights and how central it is to our practice. 

Would you like to attend the Housing Advice Training Programme? 

Housing Rights run their Housing Advice Training Programme regulary throughout the year. The next course commences on the 7 June 2017 in Housing Rights offices.

The course will cover:

• Understanding housing options available for clients
• Accessing various types of accommodation
• Using homelessness legislation
• Selection scheme
• Private rented accommodation
• Sustaining accommodation and affordability

If you are interested in attending, email us. Prices start from £240 for members of Housing Rights.