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Please see information below in regards to service provision by some of our partners. Western Isles Citizen Advice ServiceThis covers all 4 CAB offices in the Western Isles (Barra, Uist, Harris, Lewis)
Useful Links:
Hebridean housing partnershipHHP are currently trying to deliver services in as near a normal manner as possible but arrangements are changing as the Government continue to issue and update advice. If the virus spreads to the islands this will require further changes to be made. The safety of our customers, staff and contractors is of paramount importance. We have therefore taken the following measures at this time: Contact Arrangements • Many of our staff are now working from home but all staff are available by phone or email. Please contact us on 0300 123 0773 or email on customerservices@hebrideanhousing.co.uk Visits to our offices must be avoided unless pre-arranged for essential business. Please help us to adhere to the guidance on social distancing by avoiding any unnecessary contact. These measures are to minimise risk to you and our staff. • Please, advise us if you have any concerns regarding your health when you contact us. We will ask you some questions regarding this. We are particularly mindful of those identified as being most at risk and we will take all possible measures to reduce this risk if a visit to your home is required e.g. to carry out essential repair work. Paying your Rent • We know that this is a time of great uncertainty and worry for many. If you are worried about being able to make rent payments please contact us as soon as possible to discuss your situation. We will do all we can to help. It is very important that we have information on the effect that the current crisis is having on households so that we can work with the Government and other agencies to deal with this. • If you currently pay your rent in cash, we would ask that you make alternative arrangements in the meantime. This is again to reduce the risk of infections spreading. Please use Paypoint or card payments or online payments. Please phone us if you want to discuss this. We may also contact you to discuss this further. Help and Support • If you have other concerns or are feeling worried about the current situation and have no support then please contact us. We will try to assist where possible or give you details of services that might be able to help. Repair Service • We all have a responsibility not to place others at risk so we would ask that, if possible, requests for repairs or other services are restricted to those that are most urgent at this stage. • We are working with our contractors to make sure that necessary repairs are carried out. However we will put additional measures in place to protect operatives and tenants. • We will continue to post updates, on our website http://www.hebrideanhousing.co.uk and on our Twitter page @HebHousing. tighean innse gallCOVID-19 has placed a great strain on our community with many frightened for their loved one’s safety and wellbeing. TIG are a community benefit society and everything we do must be for the benefit of our island communities. Here are the details of how we are continuing to serve our communities currently whilst helping to ensure the safety of the people we serve and our staff. We have:
Our staff are now able to support people whilst working from home. We will now:
How to contact TIG:
Our activities bring several millions of pounds of funding into our islands and we will do our utmost to keep these vital funds incoming. Mindful of our policy of supporting local contractors to deliver measures, adaptations for the disabled and other alterations to homes, we will start work again as soon as is practical and safe for all concerned. We continue to work with our partners including through the Outer Hebrides Community Planning Partnership to provide services and are working behind the scenes to support community efforts. Any partner who has ideas about helping clients and want TIG to be involved, or ask for support should contact brian@tighean.co.uk or 07741652612. TIG Energy advice team update:
To note: The current Ofgem guidance states that no credit customers are going to be disconnected during the pandemic. They will do everything they can to support those on prepayment meters too. If prepayment customers are not able to top up, please ask family members or friends if they can help you. If you have any issues, for example, you are not able to afford to pay your bill or you can’t leave the house, then you need to contact your supplier immediately. Any customer in financial distress will be supported by their energy supplier and that could mean their debt repayments or bill payments being reassessed, reduced or paused during this time. For reference: https://sse.co.uk/help/coronavirus-questions-and-answers https://utilita.co.uk/help/covid-19 https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-covid-19-and-your-energy-suppl Comhairle nan eilean siar homelessness serviceThe Comhairle’s Homelessness Service continues to operate for anyone who is homeless or threatened with homelessness. We will provide advice, temporary accommodation and support as required. Please contact 01851 822821 (for Lewis and Harris) or 01870 602425 (for Uist and Barra) during standard office hours, and 01851 701702 for emergencies out of hours. More information is available on the Comhairle’s website at www.cne-siar.gov.uk/housing/homelessness comhairle nan eilean siar financial inclusion serviceThe Comhairle Financial Inclusion Service remains operational albeit in a reduced capacity. Financial Inclusion Officers, Margaret Graham (Lewis & Harris) and Angela MacDonald (Uist & Barra) are contactable through phone and email. Should you wish to contact the service for any advice or assistance with regards to benefit entitlement, application processes or signposting to partnership organisations, details are as follows:
The Scottish Welfare Fund remains open offering Crisis Grants and Community Care Grants to people facing exceptional pressures (subject to eligibility). The link below leads to the Scottish Welfare Fund application form which can be emailed to benefits@cne-siar.gov.uk https://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/media/3023/cnes-application-form.pdf
For further information and assistance, details are as follows:
Recent changes in circumstances may result in increased eligibility for Council Tax Reduction. For an eligibility check to entitlement, contact either the Benefits Office or the Financial Inclusion Service for assistance. The links below lead to the online and paper application forms: https://forms.cne-siar.gov.uk/form/auto/vof_hbctclaimform?dform_title=Housing%20Benefit%20/%20Council%20Tax%20Benefit%20Claim%20Form https://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/media/1012/hb-and-ctr-claim-form.pdf For further advice and assistance, contact either the Benefits Office or the Financial Inclusion Service using the details below:
Further Information
The following websites and local media provide useful information on the current situation locally: https://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/news; http://www.welovestornoway.com/; https://www.thistle.org.uk/looking-for-support/staying-well-at-home https://www.nhsinform.scot/ https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/; https://www.wicas.uk/; http://www.harrisvs.org.uk/publications.htm; http://www.ampaipear.org.uk/; and http://www.vabv.org.uk/contact.htm |
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