HOPE. Welcome to HOPE KENT

Accommodation Aid and Advice (AAA) Service

HOPE also provides accommodation aid and advice to people who are serving either community sentences or have just been released from prison. The aims of the service are to assist offenders in finding suitable accommodation and provide them with the information to maintain it.

What sort of advice can you expect?

Advice on Council housing and how to get registered
Advice on private rented accommodation and how to go about getting registered
Advice on supported accommodation providers in your area
Advice on the choice-based lettings scheme in your area
Advice on law in relation to tenancies and licenses
Signposting or referring to other services offering housing advice
Help with appealing against a landlord’s decision
Accessing resources such as Community Care grants, budgeting loans, etc for essential purchases (e.g. furniture)
Familiarisation with the area (e.g. places of worship, shops, leisure services, housing benefit office, benefits agency, etc)

As well as advice we offer advocacy when necessary, liaison with landlords, information on tenancies and licences & signposting to other agencies and organisations who may provide additional assistance.

A key element of the service is the use of Peer Advisors: HOPE works closely with the Probation & Prison Services to encourage and supervise the use of offenders and ex-offenders to support the work that the AAA staff carry out as well as providing support and assistance to their peers.

Referrals are only accepted from Offender Managers. Anybody who wishes to see an AAA Advisor will need to contact their supervising officer who will make the referral for them. Surgeries are held on a weekly basis in Probation Offices across Kent. Our staff provide support to all categories of offenders regardless of gender or offence. You will initially be offered a 30-minute appointment for advice. Follow up work and appointments can be offered depending on the circumstances.

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