The Healthy Homes, Healthy Lives programme, aimed at enabling older people to remain independent for longer and stay in their homes, is to be rolled out in Lewisham, the first of six London boroughs targeted under the initiative.
The HHHL programme, created by the London Rebuilding Society, a not for profit organisation that has been delivering home improvements for 15 years, is part funded by the government through Innovate UK.
The scheme will help older people to stay at home, independent for longer and offer choices and options concerning their care in later life.
It offers access to products and services commonly only available to the better off – access to home improvements, retrofit, renewables adaptations, and in-home smart technology. The scheme aims to help at least 100 homeowners although there is funding for more.
HHHL targets older, low-income homeowners living in homes needing repairs and wanting to ‘stay put’, who struggle to access finance or who want to make their homes more energy efficient to cut soaring energy bills.
The idea is that older homeowners even on low incomes can use their asset wealth to transform their homes and lives without having to pay any money up front, as the costs are incorporated into the mortgage.
As a ‘not for private profit’ provider, the society supports the homeowners, ‘handholding’ them through the process.
To enable homeowners to raise the funds to repair and improve their home, The society values the property as it will be after works are completed. After the work has been carried out the homes have a significantly increased value.
Age UK Lewisham and Southwark are supporting this initiative in Lewisham.
“Older Lewisham homeowners should have access to support and finance to repair and refurbish their home, and to make sure they have cost effective heating systems,” says Naomi Kingsley, chief executive of LRS. “This scheme can help them realise this goal.”
As part of the programme in Lewisham, LRS are hosting two events for stakeholders and homeowners to learn more about the initiative.
Learn more about the events here: https://londonrebuilding.com/society/healthy-homes-healthy-lives-events/
Events section:
London Rebuilding Society, Lewisham Healthy Homes Healthy Lives, Lunch and Learn sector event, Midday to 2pm, Tuesday 6th September 2022, St Laurence Centre, Catford.
This event is to ensure that managers and voluntary organisations in Lewisham can find out more about HHHL and meet the team delivering it.
To book your place at this event please go here: https://londonrebuilding.com/society/healthy-homes-healthy-lives-events/
London Rebuilding Society, Lewisham Healthy Homes Healthy Lives Homeowner Engagement Event. Midday till 4pm, Thursday 29th September 2022, St Laurence Centre, Catford. LRS want to understand how to best support older people in Lewisham who need or want home improvements This event is for older homeowners and their intermediaries (families, etc).
To book your place at this event please go here https://londonrebuilding.com/society/healthy-homes-healthy-lives-events/