PEOPLE in debt who face losing their home will be able to gain help quickly after City of York Council found cash to expand an advice team.

Thanks to the funding, a new debt and welfare benefits outreach worker is now on hand to offer free and confidential advice without delay on dealing with debt and claiming any benefits they may be entitled to which may be available.

The council-funded post is being managed by York Citizen's Advice Bureau and is an expansion of the bureau's existing debt team.

The initiative will provide support for people in debt who may be at risk of losing their home.

Anyone who rents accommodation from the council, a housing association or privately, as well as those with mortgages, can access general advice about debt and welfare benefits without a lengthy referral process or wait.

Those who require more specialist advice should be referred to other members of the bureau debt team.

The new outreach worker, a post currently being staffed on a job-share basis by two existing bureau workers, will hold advice sessions starting in the New Year.

The dates will include Mondays between 1pm and 4pm at the Customer Advice Centre, by appointment only through the bureau; a drop-in session on Tuesdays, from 9am until 1pm at Tang Hall Community Centre; Wednesdays, 4pm until 7pm at the Citizen's Advice Bureau in Micklegate, by appointment only; Thursdays, 10am until 1pm at the Bell Farm Community Centre and 2pm until 4.45pm at the Community Services office in Acomb, both drop-in sessions.

Home visits are also possible for those people who are unable to access the sessions because of ill-health, infirmity or care commitments.

Funding for the post is available until March 2006. A leaflet and posters will be available shortly to advertise the service.

Updated: 09:58 Tuesday, December 21, 2004