Sustain

Sustain is a free service which helps existing vulnerable social housing tenants to maintain their tenancy when at risk of losing their home, due to:

• Rent arrears
• Breach of a court order
• Breach of tenancy clauses (e.g. antisocial behaviour)
• Need of support to manage day to day tenancy issues.

Who can use the sustain service?

All vulnerable social housing tenants at risk of losing their tenancy are able to self refer to the sustain service.

The sustain team are experienced in helping vulnerable tenants, including those with mental or physical health problems; tenants with physical or learning difficulties, older or younger people, or those for whom English is not their first language.

Using the service

"When I referred Peter* to the Sustain service, he was in over £6000 rent arrears and at risk of losing his home. Sustain helped him reduce his debts by helping him claim Income Support, backdated Housing Benefit and setting up direct payments for his rent arrears. They also helped him relocate to another area in Southwark, where he is now happy and has found new friends".   
Care professional

"Sustain has helped me regain control over my life and supported me with my substance misuse problem. I tried  for several years to stop using but needed to move away from the area where I currently live. A housing transfer was not possible because I had rent arrears. The sustain service assisted me to claim backdated housing benefit which cleared my rent arrears. I'm now registered on the housing transfer list and able to bid for alternative accommodation. Sustain has also linked me in with a service to help me address my drug problems and I am now on the road to recovery".
Social housing tenant

Contact the sustain team

The team accepts referrals from tenants as well as local area housing offices, social services, Southwark's anti social behaviour unit, community mental health teams and other voluntary agencies in the borough.