What we fund – Citizens Advice Lewisham

Funding snapshot

Programme area: Tackling the housing crisis

Amount: £86,200

Length of grant: 2023-2025

Impact goal: More Londoners can advocate for their housing rights.

The challenge

Lewisham has one of the highest rates of eviction in London. On top of this the cost of living crisis, inadequate social security and low pay mean that many in the borough are facing housing pressures.

The project

Citizens Advice Lewisham provides free advice to people who live, work or study in Lewisham. We fund CAL’s housing advice programme, including a housing paralegal who works closely with Lewisham Law Centre to ensure a holistic housing provision. This work includes:

1. Specialist legal advice and representation in housing cases for vulnerable and disadvantaged clients, reducing evictions and risk of homelessness. Many of these cases are complex and take long periods of time, due to appeals and extensions to legal cases.
2. Second tier housing advice and support to frontline advisors, to increase the knowledge general advisors have of housing law and local issues.
3. Taking action to influence local housing policies, including a housing forum to increase understanding and awareness of wider housing issues.