Hoarding is one of the leading causes of eviction and can have a massive impact on the tenant, the property, the landlord as well as neighbours. It is a very complex condition that requires a compassionate and trauma-informed approach in order to support tenants effectively. 

Conference speaker Davina Emery will discuss how Winchester City Council have embedded this approach into their programme of tenant support. They have helped tenants at serious risk of losing their homes to turn their lives around and manage their tenancies successfully.

 1.           What are you speaking about at the Tenant Engagement conference?

I will be speaking specifically about our hoarding support for our tenants. How it all started, the work that went into it to get it off the ground and how it has helped and supported thus far.

 2.           Tell us about your experience in this area and what can the sector learn from you?

I will briefly explain this at the start of my talk, but myself and others within housing are much more skilled and experienced in working with hoarding now because of the process we have in place and learning a lot from the tenants we have worked with.  This alongside hoarding training for all frontline officers.

3.           What are the biggest challenges you would like to see discussed at the conference and why?

I feel I would like to see funding and the buy-in for specific projects such as our hoarding support being discussed.  If budgets keep getting cut across local authorities and housing providers, how can we maintain the support we are significantly implementing in an ever-changing demographic? Multiple disadvantages are becoming more demanding and other services are being stretched with little capacity to support.

Davina is speaking as part of a session on “Using trauma-informed approaches to improve engagement and outcomes”. Don’t miss out on Davina’s insight and experience – book your place today!