Curo News

Curo's Passport to Housing service put £391k back into customers' pockets last year

Tue, 17 May 2022 09:00:44 Z

Our Passport to Housing service helps customers to take back control of their money.

Making renting a home successful.

Last year (2021-22), the 159 customers who used our service were an average of £5,061 better off thanks to Passport to Housing.

Passport to Housing is available across Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

Find out how we can help you boost your finances so you can make a successful move:

Passport to Housing

Passport to independence

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 12:13:55 Z

Our Passport to Housing service is a free and confidential service offered by Curo to help people bidding for homes through Bath & North East Somerset's Homesearch scheme to prepare for a successful Curo tenancy and plan for the expense of moving home. Read about one resident's recent experience with Passport to Housing here:

South Gloucestershire Council referred me to Curo’s Passport to Housing to get help preparing for my own tenancy whilst I was living in temporary accommodation. I suffer with depression and anxiety, and I felt very overwhelmed when I started working with Ali. She called me to explain the service and I felt able to tell her my story; to share with her the series of traumatic life events that had resulted in me losing my home, and my employment, and how this had impacted my mental health.

We worked at my pace, identifying all my debts and we agreed a plan together. She supported me with setting up a debt management plan with Stepchange and encouraged me to make calls to those creditors I felt able to, setting up joint calls to those creditors that I felt I needed help to speak to. This helped me to feel more confident in making decisions myself.

I was on Universal Credit but did not have any additional financial support, as I was not well enough to work. Ali helped me to contact my doctor to get a fit note and led to me getting some extra money in my Universal Credit, because I am unwell.

She spoke to me about applying for Personal Independence Payment and explained how to do this, helping to write the application form with me. The claim was successful, and I received a backdate payment to the date that I ordered the form. I was absolutely delighted as this helped me to tackle some of my debts.

She worked closely with my mental health support worker so that I felt that they were both helping me to move forward to my goal of having my own home.

When I was allocated a property, she spoke to the housing association about my financial and personal circumstances, forwarding evidence to support my application, so that I didn’t have to keep repeating all the things that had happened to me in my life. Also, when I was told I had a flat, she applied for grants to help me set up a home, as I had nothing. She helped me to get a bed, some furniture and some kitchen items including a fridge.

She kept in contact with me regularly and even after I moved, she helped me to get a cooker, which I had not been able to afford. I have found Passport to Housing so helpful.

Call us on 01225 366000 or email hello@curo-group.co.uk if you think Passport to Housing might work for you.

How Passport to Housing changed my life

Fri, 25 Oct 2019 11:31:36 Z

Although not a Curo resident at the time, Joanne was referred to Curo's Passport to Housing service so she could get support to move home having been affected by the 'bedroom tax'. Joanne (pictured on the left with Curo Customer Advisor Debbie) shared her story with us:

I needed to move. My son moved out and that meant I was affected by the bedroom tax. On top of that, the property I was living in was unsuitable because of my health. I couldn’t deal with the stairs and I wasn’t able to get out as regularly as I would have liked. I felt trapped in my own home.

Because of my health I had to leave my job and that affected my income and triggered a claim for Universal Credit. I didn’t know where to start.

I was put in touch with Reach’s ‘floating support’ team. They helped me with budgeting, bills and my general finances since losing my income, and it was Jerry at Reach who referred me to Passport to Housing.

It was such a relief to have help and support. I quickly realised there are agencies out there who are happy to help and that don’t judge you.

My first appointment was booked with Debbie from Curo’s Passport to Housing service. Straight away she put me at ease and explained what she could do to help. I can get stressed in certain situations, but Debbie was open and friendly. Discussing personal information like finances can be embarrassing but I felt unjudged and very relaxed.

We worked out an action plan which detailed what I needed to do and what Debbie would do to get the ball rolling and get me ready to move. Debbie helped me apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment to cover the bedroom tax. This meant I didn’t run up any further rent arrears. She also helped me reduce the deductions from my Universal Credit, so I had more disposable income.

My biggest worry was the rent I owed and Debbie was also able to help with that. She made an application to St John’s Foundation who agreed to clear the arrears. It felt so good having someone on my side who knew exactly what to do – she made me feel confident. I knew I no longer had to bury my head in the sand because my problems were getting sorted and I could see light at the end of the tunnel.

Once my finances were sorted it was time to think about my move. I really wanted to be near my family for support but would have moved anywhere. I was so desperate for a better quality of life and to be able to get out and about rather than being isolated in my home because of the stairs. I was bidding on anything that came up on Homesearch because I thought I had to. Debbie explained that this wasn’t the case and that made me relax and stopped me panicking about moving.

I was overjoyed when I was selected for a one-bedroomed bungalow near to my family. As soon as I walked into the property I knew it was the right property at the right time for me, I was so eager to move in. Debbie also secured a payment from Welfare Support to help with my removal costs. I couldn’t believe it.

Very soon the property felt like home: it’s peaceful, I have lovely neighbours who always speak when they see me, checking I’m OK. It’s a proper community!

I would highly recommend Passport to Housing. They will help and support you, so go for it! It can be a big step to take but you won’t regret it, they’ll be on your side. I wasn’t even a Curo customer and was still able to access the service. I now feel so much better in myself.

Thanks to Debbie at Curo and Jerry at DHI Reach along with all the other agencies involved. You have changed my life for the better.

Find out more about Curo's Passport to Housing service.

Passport to Housing: "I feel like I'm someone again"

Tue, 28 Mar 2017 01:00:00 Z

Thanks to Bath resident Beverly who sent us this letter about her experience as a Passport to Housing customer. Beverly wanted us to share her letter so that other people in her situation could hear first-hand about the help available.

Pictured, L-R: Curo New Customer Advisor Debbie Brinsmead-Williams, Beverly and Jeremy Palmer of Reach.

Dear Debbie,

Just to let you know I am so happy and settled in my new home, and feel like I would not have been in this position now without you.

As you know I was in a very bad and dark place at my previous property and had been looking to move for some time. Because of bedroom tax and huge arrears on my account I could not see any way out.

I can’t thank you enough for the help and support you showed me with the work that needed to be done at the property before I could move, and the grant you secured to pay for this. Having lived there for 30 years I didn’t know where to start and my ill-health held me back.

Before Passport I was suffering badly with depression and anxiety and my health was very poor. No one had been able to help me in the past three years and I couldn’t see how another appointment with another person could help me out of my situation. When we met I was so relieved at how down-to-earth you were and how you listened to me without judgement.

You put me at ease and made me feel that it would be possible to move if we worked together. Whenever I needed to see you or speak to you, you took the time to contact me and nothing was ever too much trouble.

I had always felt that I was a no one, now I feel like I am someone again for the first time in five years. You really understood what I was going through and did everything you could to help me as well as working with my support worker, Jeremy from Reach, who you also had a really good relationship with.

Without your help I would not have dealt with my debts which are now under control and manageable. I can now open my post knowing it won’t be a threating letter.

I can’t thank you enough for arranging for my arrears to be cleared through a discretionary housing payment, which was the last barrier to moving.

I no longer feel isolated or alone, having moved to a property that is right for me which I love and am slowly making it into a home. I am coping much better with my depression and anxiety and feel that I am in a much better place. I’m actually going out this weekend with friends which will be a first for years.

Having a bed to sleep in is amazing, as you remember I was sleeping on the sofa and did not use the upstairs of my previous property. I now have carpets which have been laid with the grant you secured, which again I have not had in many years.

It was a real possibility before you started working with me that I was going to be evicted from my property, and thanks to the service this did not happen which I am so pleased about.

I cannot recommend the service enough and would like to say to anyone thinking of going through passport to housing to do it 150%. We need more people like you who can listen, understand and help people without judgement.

I now have more confidence, no money worries and a fresh start to my new life and I feel like I am living again!

Many thanks Debbie for everything.

Beverly talks about her experience with Passport to Housing in this short film:

Passport to Housing

The right move... Sally and Aaron's Passport to Housing story

Wed, 15 Jun 2016 01:00:00 Z

Weston couple Sally and Aaron needed to move, but debts meant taking on a new tenancy was going to be hard. Sally explains how Curo's Passport to Housing service helped them clear their debts and make the right move...

"Living in a fourth floor flat was impacting on Aaron’s health - mobility issues meant he wasn't able to get out and we felt trapped in our own home. Aaron began to feel really depressed and that created a lot of emotional stress for us both.

"We heard about Passport to Housing from B&NES Council's housing options team. Passport helped us sort out our debts by entering us into a payment plan. This stopped creditors taking enforcement action through the courts and prevented us getting County Court Judgements, making us better off each week.

"Completing a income and expenditure form helped us understand our finances and put a budget plan together. This has made us feel much more confident about dealing with financial matters in future.

"Our journey with Passport to Housing started in March and we moved into our new home in May. It’s amazing... we're so happy. Speechless! It is so much more than we expected.

"We now have a ground floor flat with wheelchair access, just a short distance from the hospital.

"We'd highly recommend Passport to Housing and have already been telling our family and friends."

Pictured: New Customer Advisor Debbie Brinsmead-Williams (centre) with Sally and Aaron outside their new home.

Get your Passport to Housing

'On cloud 9'... Della's Passport to Housing story

Wed, 15 Jun 2016 01:00:00 Z

Keynsham resident Della was hit by the 'bedroom tax' which reduced the support she could get to cover her rent. Della talked to us about how using our Passport to Housing service helped her to take charge of her money and move into a new home that she could afford.

"Before Passport to Housing I was struggling with my finances. I was affected by the bedroom tax as my daughter had moved out. I didn’t want to fall into arrears, but I didn’t think there would be any way I could move... I really felt there was no way out of my situation.

"Passport to Housing helped me with budgeting, reducing my outgoings, and I realised I'd have to sell my car as I could no longer afford the upkeep.

"Curo applied for a Discretionary Housing Payment to cover the bedroom tax shortfall for a while. This gave me breathing space to look for a smaller property and meant I didn't fall into rent arrears.

"When I found a suitable property, Curo secured a week’s rent up-front and covered the moving costs from welfare support.

"In May this year I moved into my dream home, and I don’t need a car it's so central. I’m on cloud 9!

"Passport to Housing has given me confidence and control of my finances. I would say to anyone thinking about Passport to ‘do it!’"

Pictured: New Customer Advisor Debbie Brinsmead-Williams with Della and her chiwawa 'Gok'.

Get your Passport to Housing