Clients coming to CHAT for housing advice and support, include: people who are escaping domestic violence, ex-offenders, those who are drug and/or alcohol dependent, as well as people with mental health issues, family breakdowns or being on very low incomes. Some are sleeping rough, which means they are sleeping in the open-air, in a tent, a car, or ‘sofa surfing’. Others are facing almost immediate eviction, which means they require urgent support and interventions. We help people to obtain access to social housing either through private rentals or local authority housing across Mid Devon.

Within the tenancy support service, practical advice and support is provided to vulnerable tenants experiencing difficulties with their tenancies. Our aim, as far as possible, is to help tenants to continue living in their existing accommodation. We help tenants to create positive relationships with their landlords. We advise tenants on fulfilling their rental obligations, setting up regular rent payments, paying Council Tax, reviewing benefit claims, applying for new benefits, managing utility bills and undertaking minor repairs.

At present we are only able to offer telephone advice