The demand for social housing is increasing, fuelled by the economic downturn, rising unemployment and financial constraints. But with a relatively static supply of accommodation, those looking for housing need even more help to understand the local housing situation and be realistic about the options available to them. Unfortunately it is often difficult for people to comprehend how social housing is allocated, to appreciate what is actually available and therefore what their chances are of being offered accommodation.

Keyfax Housing Options can provide a solution. Using Keyfax Inter•View scripting software, interactive guidance can be created for almost any topic and then be made accessible to people via the internet. Keyfax Housing Options is a model set of scripts specifically targeted at individuals looking for help with accommodation. The scripts can easily be refined and amended to reflect local circumstances, services, allocation policies and available housing.

The great advantage of Keyfax Inter•View lies in the ability to create scripts that respond intelligently to information provided by users and other available information. Therefore responses are customer focussed.

Our Housing Options can:

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• identify Housing Need factors and assessment in accordance with the Allocations Policies
• provide up-to-date, realistic guidance on the likelihood of an offer of social housing based on the assessed housing need, the availability of relevant accommodation and the current state of the housing ‘queue’.

It can also:

• obtain information on household income and assess the potential for obtaining different types of benefits
• provide guidance on private rented accommodation and rent guarantee schemes 
• assess the opportunities for assistance with HomeBuy and other ownership scheme
• determine eligibility for assistance with mortgage payments
• identify where assistance may be required for debt counselling or provision of support services
• provide guidance on appropriate employment and training opportunities.

On completion, each user is provided with a personal Self Help Pack identifying the various options that are available and appropriate for them. They can save and print the Pack and return to it at a later date to update their records, explore other options and update their Pack.

Housing Options is just one example of the way Keyfax Inter•View is being used to provide tenants and customers with information and guidance relevant to their particular enquiry and appropriate to their personal circumstances.





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