Westmorland and Furness Council’s homelessness and housing advice service in the Eden locality, currently provided by Eden Housing Association, is being brought in-house from 1 April 2025.
The service in Eden which has been provided by Eden Housing Association Housing for a number of years, will, as of 1 April, be brought in-house and be based at council offices at Voreda House in Penrith.
From 1 April, anyone who is homeless or at risk of homelessness should contact the team directly on 01768 212179, email dutytorefer2@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk, or visit westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/housing. The service will be available Monday to Thursday from 9am to 5pm, and on Fridays from 9am to 4.30pm. Outside these hours, urgent assistance can be sought by calling 01229 833311.
The change is part of a wider alignment of services across Westmorland and Furness following Local Government Reorganisation, ensuring that people experiencing homelessness receive a consistent level of support across the area. It follows a Cabinet decision last year which approved the insourcing of the Homelessness and Housing Advice Service to create a more cohesive and effective response to homelessness.
The decision was made to ensure a streamlined service that meets the needs of residents consistently across the entire area. By bringing the service in-house, the council aims to improve accessibility, coordination, and overall support for individuals and families facing housing difficulties.
Eden Housing Association has successfully delivered this service since 1997 following the voluntary transfer of former Eden District Council’s housing stock, and the council extends its sincere thanks for their dedication over the years.
Eden Housing Association and the council will continue to work in partnership with Accent Housing Association, Castles and Coasts Housing Association, Cumberland Council, Home Group, Riverside and South Lakes Housing through Cumbria Choice Based Lettings which offer a single platform where customers can apply for available social housing in one location, using one application form.
Councillor Judith Derbyshire, Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Safety, said:
“We want to reassure residents that this change will not impact the delivery of homelessness and housing advice services in the Eden locality. From 1 April 2025, contact details for the service will change, but support will remain available for anyone who needs it. By bringing the service in-house, we are ensuring a single, consistent approach to homelessness support across Westmorland and Furness, improving accessibility and making sure that people can receive the help they need, when they need it.
“We would like to sincerely thank Eden Housing Association for their dedicated delivery of the service over many years, and for their commitment to supporting residents in need. We look forward to continuing to work closely with them in this and other areas of service.”
Chris Fawcett, Chief Executive of Eden Housing Association, said:
“We’re keen to retain a close working relationship with Westmorland and Furness Council. We’ve been proud to deliver this essential service for the last 27 years and know that residents in the former district of Eden will continue to receive high quality housing advice from our colleagues. We wish them well in their new roles.”