Advice Surgeries in South Edinburgh
A NEW, free, advice service from Shelter Scotland aims to help sort out South Edinburgh’s housing
hassles.
Beginning on June 15th and on every first and third Friday after that, the South Edinburgh Advice surgery will take up residence in the new library and South Edinburgh
Partnership office in Newtoft Street. Each surgery will run from 10am until
noon.
Shelter Scotland has been working with homeless and poorly-housed people in Edinburgh for over 25 years. During that time, it has offered advice and support to thousands of people facing homelessness, eviction or those struggling to cope with rent or mortgage arrears.
In the last two years alone, over 1,500 different enquiries have been received by staff at Shelter’s Edinburgh Housing Aid Centre. Of these requests for help, almost two-thirds were from people facing the nightmare of
homelessness.
Shelter’s specially-trained staff were able to prevent homelessness in 318 cases and helped find permanent homes for another 211 of its clients. Over 500 people also received advice and information on getting the right amount of housing benefit, or how to manage rent
arrears.
Often, the right advice received early enough can prevent a housing problem becoming a housing crisis. Clark Dickson, senior advice worker at the South Edinburgh Surgery
explains:
“I think some people believe that Shelter can only help if they are already homeless but that’s not true. We are here for any housing problem. Sometimes it’s a simple problem that can be sorted out with a phone call or a letter, but sometimes it can be a bit more complicated. The more time Shelter has, the more work we can
do."
“Very often the people we see haven’t known where they could get the help or information they need. They may feel intimidated by an official-looking letter from their landlord, or they may not understand how their housing benefit has been calculated or what rights they have to get a repair to their home. Shelter is here to help whatever the
question.”
Unfortunately, there are times when more specialist help is needed and Shelter has developed the Scottish Housing Law Service to support its clients if their case has been called to court.
Shelter also runs projects for families who are already homeless or living in temporary accommodation, to help them through the difficult times until they secure a home of their
own.
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