top of page

Preventing crises as housing leaders: collaborative solutions to support vulnerable residents

Winter is always challenging, but this year the stakes are higher than ever. With energy bills still around 50% higher than pre-Covid levelsĀ and the energy cap providing little relief, vulnerable residents are facing mounting pressure to stay warm, safe, and healthy during the colder months. To tackle this issue head-on, we recently hosted a webinar with housing leaders and experts who shared innovative strategies, practical tools, and collaborative solutions to prevent winter crises. The session underscored the power of partnership and data-driven intervention, and we're excited to share the highlights with you here.


A row of terraced houses
Supporting households in the UK


Proactive support for residents in Edinburgh


Jill Thompson, Housing & Homelessness Strategy Manager at City of Edinburgh Council (CEC), set the tone by outlining their proactive, preventative approach to supporting residents. Itā€™s all about stepping in early to stop problems before they snowball.


Damp and mould can wreak havoc on both residentsā€™ health and their homes, so CEC rolled out a damp sensor programme. With nearly 500 homes equipped and plans to scale to 2,000, these sensors enable housing teams to detect and address issues before they escalate. A new partnership with the NHS aims to link housing data with respiratory health cases for even earlier intervention - an approach that could save both lives and properties.


Through the Lightning Reach portal, CEC enables their tenants and their support workers can access financial assistance directly, with over 731 households helpedĀ since March 2024 and Ā£70,000 in benefits identified.Ā Importantly, aided by the data provided by Lightning Reach, CEC is piloting predictive analytics to flag residents at risk of financial crises or homelessness. This tech-led approach aims to intervene early, turning data into a powerful tool for prevention and wellbeing.


Finally, through a collaboration with Changeworks, CEC offers an energy advice service that helps tenants navigate energy efficiency, billing problems, and accessing affordable warmth. Since launching in 2018, theyā€™ve handled over 4,300 cases, generating an impressive Ā£1.5 million in savingsĀ for residents.



A holistic approach to winter support at Sovereign Network Group (SNG)


Next, Erica Watts, Head of Employment, Skills and Inclusion at Sovereign Network Group (SNG), shared how their comprehensive year-round strategy provides a lifeline to their 210,000 customers.


SNGā€™s Help at Hand fundĀ supports residents in crisis with essentials like white goods and tenancy sustainment grants. They step up even more during winter, offering tailored winter heating vouchers, warmth packs, and energy educationĀ to reduce costs and help residents manage their bills effectively.


Their partnership with Lightning Reach has had great impact so far, allowing residents to independently access grants and funds, reducing pressure on support teams while empowering residents to self-serve where possible. For more complex cases, they collaborate with trusted charities and third-sector organisations to ensure no one is left behind. Using data to spot households most at risk (like those in low EPC-rated homes) SNG targets their resources where theyā€™re needed most. This ensures theyā€™re proactive rather than reactive, particularly during the most challenging months.


National Energy Action (NEA): advocacy and action against fuel poverty


Peter Smith, Policy Director at NEA, shifted the conversation to the national stage, highlighting how their work is driving both policy change and practical support.


NEA has been instrumental in shaping government policy, such as reversing the prepayment premium, which disproportionately impacted tenants. But they arenā€™t stopping there - theyā€™re calling for broader affordability measures, recognising that energy costs are still unaffordable for many.


They also work directly with the government to boost household incomes and are pushing energy suppliers to write off debts for the most vulnerable. Their advocacy for minimum energy efficiency standardsĀ in private and social housing sectors encourages landlords to make long-term upgrades using government funding.


Lightning Reach: bridging the gap

To round things off, Dave Farquharson, Lightning Reachā€™s Director of Partnerships,Ā shared how our platform is making a tangible difference for residents navigating the pressures of rising energy costs.


By partnering with housing organisations across the UK, we've facilitated millions of pounds in support. A recent partnership with Link Housing in Scotland has already delivered Ā£30,000 in additional financial gains for tenants. By focusing on self-service support through the Lightning Reach portal, Link is able to scale support while targeting those in greatest need.


From text campaigns to pension credit drives, we connect with hard-to-reach demographics, ensuring older tenants and those at risk of tenancy failure donā€™t miss out on vital support. Stories like Annetteā€™sĀ - a Navy veteran who secured Ā£1,500 to furnish her home - showcase how our platform empowers individuals to overcome financial hardship.


The power of collaboration

At its heart, this webinar reinforced the importance of working together to tackle the challenges of winter. Whether itā€™s through data-driven interventions, proactive partnerships, or sharing best practices, these strategies show whatā€™s possible when we combine forces to support vulnerable residents.


If youā€™d like to explore how your organisation can collaborate with Lightning Reach, get in touch at hello@lightningreach.org. Together, we can help ensure no one is left out in the cold this winter.

0 comments

Comments


bottom of page