HOUSING specialists at Profile have secured the support of Merseyside sporting personalities who are backing a campaign to help people get out of debt.
Premier League referee Chris Foy and Everton and England Ladies goalkeeper Rachel Brown, alongside Everton Football Club’s official charity Everton in the Community, are backing the Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) campaign to tackle tenant debt and rent arrears.
Chris and Rachel are supporting KHT’s Give Rent Arrears the Red Card scheme, a new warning system for families at risk of losing their home.
It aims to encourage people who are struggling to pay their rent and bills to come to KHT for help before it is too late.
Chris said: "I think everyone can relate to the ‘red and yellow’ card system and hopefully it will drive home the message to seek help before rent arrears build up.”
Rachel, who aside from her sporting commitments works as a Premier League Academy Coordinator for Everton in the Community, added: "Everton has strong links to Knowsley and we have a lot of support there. This scheme is a great way of using that connection to help families get out and stay out of debt.”
Under the new scheme, when tenants first fall behind with their rent payments they will receive a yellow card in the post urging them to seek help with information on what to do next and who to contact for advice.
If the warning is ignored, they will then receive a red card which will be their final warning before KHT takes action.
KHT hopes the cards will grab attention where more officially styled notification letters have failed in the past.
It aims to signpost tenants to the numerous free, professional KHT services that are designed to help them, not judge them, before debts become unmanageable.
Terry Bonner, KHT Operational Director of Landlord Services, said: "Tenants are often reluctant to ask for help when they find themselves behind with their rent, but the longer they leave it the worse the problem will get.
"We want to make it clearer what they need to do and where to turn.
"People may have lost their job or be facing living on a lower income, but we can help make sure they are claiming all the benefits they are entitled to, direct them to benefit and debt support agencies and help them work out a plan to reduce their arrears.
"We want to keep families in their homes and keep communities together. KHT is here to help.”
Everton in the Community, the official charity of Everton Football Club, deliver a range of engaging sports-related activity programmes with the aim of making a real difference to the lives of people across the North West and North Wales.
Mike Mills, Community Engagement Officer for Everton in the Community, said: "We are very pleased to team up with KHT in this scheme that will hopefully help many families manage their debt and stay in their homes in what are financially tough times for everyone.”
Thanks to all the lovely ladies who attended the delicious cookery fundraiser in Hartford this morning in support of #oneineleven 18 May 2012 11:49:27
Macdonald Portal Hotel Golf and Spa in #Cheshire is supporting National Vegetarian Week with gourmet veggie menu #NVW_2012@nvw_2012@vegsoc 17 May 2012 08:37:28
If you are free this Friday, why not try some tasty treats and raise some 'dough' for #oneineleven at this fab event http://t.co/jSMBi7ar 16 May 2012 12:53:57
HOUSING specialists at Profile have secured the support of Merseyside sporting personalities who are backing a campaign to help people get out of debt.
