LATCH is a housing provider with a small number of properties to let. Our housing stock includes back to back terraces, flats, and terraced houses. Most of our accommodation is 1 or 2 bedroomed. We can also offer larger 3 bed properties but these have limited availability.
Aims of the housing service?
The housing service aims to provide a safe and secure home for vulnerable people who are homeless or in housing need.
Allocating a property (lettings) : How do we do this?
All LATCH properties are let to people who we have identified as most in need of somewhere to live. This is done on a points system to assess the level of housing need. Applicants who have enough qualifying points are then invited to LATCH for an interview. This is the applicant's opportunity to discuss more fully their housing circumstance. An assessment of support needs is also undertaken with the applicant so that LATCH staff can begin to formulate ideas for a support plan.
To read more about our Floating Support service click here.
Who is the service for?
We will only accept people for housing if they are homeless or in genuine housing need. Most of our applicants are unemployed, on a low income, have no resources and often have underlying problems, for example: drug and alcohol issues, debts, family or relationship breakdown, suffering from depression or stress.
What does the housing service provide?
Over the past 5 years LATCH has been improving its properties through its Decent Homes project.
Self-Help Housing
A key feature of the lettings process is the self-help component where tenants are encouraged to become involved in 'creating' their home environment. Tenants are required to work with us for a maximum of 10 days preparing and decorating their home, choosing curtains and carpets prior to the start of their tenancy.
This 'pre-tenancy' work helps to build positive relationships between staff and the new tenant, cultivates confidence and acts as an assessment period where the tenant is able to demonstrate their commitment to creating positive change.
If you would like to know more about being housed by LATCH please contact the office on 0113 2374482 alternatively you can download an application for housing by clicking here.