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David Burdis. Financial Inclusion Manager. Who are New Charter Housing?. Based in Tameside, East Manchester 18,000 homes Located in Oldham and Gedling Turnover of £90m per annum Workforce of 800 We receive £43m pa Housing Benefit. Who are our tenants?. Financial Inclusion Survey.
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David Burdis Financial Inclusion Manager
Who are New Charter Housing? • Based in Tameside, East Manchester • 18,000 homes • Located in Oldham and Gedling • Turnover of £90m per annum • Workforce of 800 • We receive £43m pa Housing Benefit
Financial Inclusion Survey • 7% of our tenants do not have bank accounts • 27% have long term debt • 20% of those use doorstep lenders • 68% of our tenants have no savings • 57% know what a credit union is but only 2% use one • 31% use a ppm to pay for fuel • 52% do not have home contents insurance
Financial Inclusion survey cont’d • 19% feel they don’t have enough money to live on • 34% admit to having money worries • 57% do not have internet access
Debt Advice team • Four advisers dealt with 242 new clients in 2011/12 • Total indebtedness £2.3m • Average debt per case £9509
Welfare Benefits team • Three advisers dealt with 288 new cases in 2011/12 • Overall gains £568,000
Thinking BIG • Information sessions for all staff • Message - Welfare Reform is a problem for everyone not just Revenues • Explore ideas from across the company • Unified approach • SWAT
SWAT • Specialist • Welfare Reform • Advice • Team
SWAT • Tenants whose property is too big and they will be affected by the bedroom tax • Face to face chat about their options • Refer to advice agencies if appropriate • Refer to money skills sessions • Refer to re-lets regarding a swap
SWAT • Early indications are tenants want to stay in their homes and are prepared to find the difference • May prove very difficult when effect of council tax benefit cuts are known
Support alternative credit • Supports the local credit union providing staff and meeting rooms • Encourages tenants and staff to join • Helps to develop financial products with the credit union