WHAT is the York Financial Assistance Scheme and who uses it? As part of a report revealing a shake-up of the system, City of York Council has published five stories of people who turned to the fund for help.

 

>>> Case-study 1: Basic essentials for a man leaving hospital

A single 44-year-old male was admitted to hospital under the Mental Health Act suffering from a severe depression.

Following two years of treatment the detention and section was brought to an end. He remained an informal patient in a secure ward with the intention to move him to accommodation of his own.

With support, the focus was to find a suitable move on property and a co-ordinated support package to assist a move back into the community The customer signed up for an unfurnished self contained privately rented property whilst continuing to receive ongoing support from his psychiatric team, assertive outreach team, as well as tenancy support through Foundation.

He receives Employment and Support Allowance of £108.15 per week and had budgeted well to save up for sign up fees and rent in advance but could not afford to buy the basic essentials to furnish his new home.

With the help of his Support Worker he made an application to the Community fund and received £1285 to furnish his flat.

His Support Worker advises that he has thrived since moving to his flat.

The grant really ‘lifted his spirits’ and ‘he still goes on about it’. The level grant allowed him to buy new goods. He wouldn’t have been able to feel secure and have pride in his home without it. The alternative was to ‘be released from hospital with nothing.’ He was instantly settled and every agency involved in reviewing his progress is very happy with how he’s doing. He has been looking into going to university and is now attending an Art College in Leeds and getting into photography.

As a result of the praise that this customer gave to YFAS, a social worker from another part of Yorkshire rang the Support Worker to ask about the York scheme.

The Support Worker advised that the he found the application process easy and the processing of the grant ‘really good.'

 

>>> Case-study 2: Bedding and carpets for a mum who fled domestic violence

A 25-year-old single mum with three children aged six, three and one was fleeing severe domestic violence into a new home.

She had one day to pack and get as many of her and the children’s possessions out of the house. The customer had to leave things behind as she was only able to make two trips with a van during this timeframe.

Her two eldest children have been sharing her bed since they moved as she had to leave her son's bed and mattress and daughter's mattress was also left (but she did have single bed frame). She also had to leave daughter's wardrobe. Her youngest was in a small crib at the time but is now climbing out of that and needs something bigger. On Income Support she could not afford to pay out a lump sum to cover this. She obviously had to leave all of her carpets in her old house and has not managed to carpet anywhere in new house due to having no money.

Also she asked to be considered for pots/pans and bedding which were left back at old house and also clothing for the children. She was getting maximum deductions out of her Income Support already and has been declined for a budgeting loan.

An award of £1265 was made.

 

>>> Case-study 3: A grant after bereavement

A 59-year-old single female was living in with her partner in his own property. He was going to change his will to include her when she moved in with him but sadly he died at the property before this happened. She suffers from mental health problems and did not feel able to contest the will. The house and contents were left to relatives.

She was already in receipt of Employment and Support allowance of £123.70 per week and her mental health took a turn for the worse following his death. Assessed by Bootham Park Hospital Psychiatrist and the Mental health Crisis team and supported, her support worker has said ‘With no understanding of what to do, she was more and more ignoring the fact that she would be losing her accommodation.’ She was assessed by the Council as priority need and awarded Gold Band. Successful in getting a property all she could see was ‘an empty place and no idea of how she was going to be able to live there with nothing.’ The award of £1,341.99 had a ‘very positive effect in enabling her to see that there was a future ahead for her where she could make a new home. Her ‘mental health, although still low due to the recent loss, has been improved with the aid of the grant to enable her to make a home.

She is now looking with support to go back into doing some voluntary work, using the skills she has. There is 'no doubt in the mind of’ the support worker that had her 'application for a grant not been successful her mental health and probably physical health would have declined and she would not be in anywhere near moving positively forward with her life. She has said a number of times that without the help and advice she received at Housing Options, and the grant that she is very grateful to have received, she would not have coped.’

 

>>> Case-study 4: Childcare support for a single teenage mum

An 18-year-old single female with a six-month-old baby moved from an overcrowded family home, where she shared a room with her sister and her baby, into an unfurnished council flat.

She had stayed on at school but the birth meant that her education stopped and she had to leave school before she completed her examinations.

A grant of £1230 from YFAS meant that she was able to create a new home for herself and her baby. She returned to college and as she was under 21 has childcare funded by Care to learn.

The maximum childcare that is paid is £160 per week. Even with this contribution this customer has to add £8 per week from her limited income towards her child care.

Her support worker advised that the move to the new home, living independently and subsequently resuming her education has done wonders for her confidence.

 

>>> Case-study 5: Help setting up home for a grieving teenager

An 18-year-old female with mild learning difficulties was bereaved as she lost her whole family, mother, father and sibling.

Following a lengthy period of living an unsettled way of life and a period of homelessness she began her resettlement programme, with support.

She had received intensive support, including support and work around money management, cooking skills, support in attending college and support sessions aimed at improving employability. There has been a vast improvement in her independent living skills.

Her support worker advises that she is doing well with the plan to go back to college and work with animals. She will be supported to do mini courses building up to full time studying.

Lacking any form of family support, the grant of £1105.99 made all the difference to her as it enabled her to create a home. She got to buy items for her home and it is the making of a ‘home’ that makes the difference in sustaining her tenancy.

 

Source: City of York Council cabinet report