Yorkshire Housing’s Harrogate Home Improvement Agency (HIA) is celebrating being awarded a new three-year contract with North Yorkshire County Council so it can continue to help vulnerable residents live independently in their own homes. Harrogate HIA has supported customers in the Harrogate district for twenty-five years.
In the last five years over 20,000 residents have benefited from the service.
Harrogate HIA is not-for-profit service that provides advice and practical solutions to help older people, people living with disabilities and other vulnerable residents, continue to live at home comfortably, safely and securely.
Yorkshire Housing’s Deputy Head of Home Improvement Agencies Kate Haley said: We are really pleased to continue to work in Harrogate. We have an enthusiastic team who make a real difference to customer’s lives. We adapt customer’s homes to meet their needs; this can range from simple jobs, such as fitting a grab rail, to more complex modifications such as installing level access showers. Our Handyperson service helps customers with odd jobs around the house, including assembling furniture or even changing a light bulb.
We also offer an advice service to help customers plan and finance the work they need doing. We aim to help them secure funding for work and offer support with grants, benefits and winter fuel payments.
Last year Needs, Advice and Support Officer Maggie Partridge was highly commended in a national industry award for raising over £82,500 in charitable and benevolent funding for customers.
Residents in Harrogate may qualify for funding to cover the cost of HIA services, those who do not can use Yorkshire Housing’s paid-for service HandyTec, which launched in 2013.
Alan Jenks, Harrogate Borough Council’s Head of Housing said: Harrogate Borough Council has worked with Yorkshire Housing for many years, establishing one of the first Home Improvement Agencies in the early 1990s. We look forward to continuing this relationship, so that we can help those residents who need support and assistance to allow them to continue living independently in their homes.
Councillor Clare Wood, North Yorkshire County Council’s Executive Member for Health and Adult Services, said: Providing the support and care to allow people to live full and independent lives in their own homes is a key part of the council’s vision for older people. We welcome the added assurance provided by these new contracts from Yorkshire Housing’s Home Improvement Agency.
If you would like to find out more about Harrogate HIA call 0345 366 4402/ or email harrogatehia@yorkshirehousing.co.uk
