Council's New Online Portal is Huge Help to Homeless

A NEW online portal launched by Tameside Homeless Service (THS) is proving successful in helping people get the support they need.

It has also been highly effective in managing the unprecedented level of demand the council is currently experiencing.

THS has seen a 15 per cent increase in opened cases this year compared with the start of 2023, and the number of people getting in touch to ask for advice has almost doubled.

Even so, in the first quarter of this year the service was able to arrange safer, longer-term accommodation for 117 households.

The portal – www.tameside.gov.uk/housing/homelessservice – allows customers, their families and partner agencies to submit an online enquiry form which will be picked up by a member of the team.

It is the best and fastest way of getting help as people are only admitted to the housing advice office if they have a pre-arranged appointment with an officer.

Cllr John Taylor, Tameside Council’s executive member for adult social care, homelessness and inclusivity, said: “I would like to congratulate the team on setting up the portal and for their dedication to supporting people who find themselves in very difficult circumstances.

“The council is witnessing unprecedented demand on the housing advice service as more households are struggling to maintain their accommodation or finding themselves homeless.

“We recognise how desperate and anxious they must feel and we want to do everything we can to help.

“I would ask people seeking support to be patient, to treat officers with respect, and to make sure they use the online portal, and the homeless team will do its level best to assist.”