Columnist shows how advice and support in local courts help reduce homelessness.
In today’s Guardian Polly Toynbee describes how Shelter advisers work with people facing court action for rent arrears and eviction*. The debts have various causes including ignorance of entitlement, withdrawal of benefit and a mental health condition.
In many cases the court is prepared to grant an adjournment and give debtors a chance to sort things out with the help of the support charity.
Similar events take place every day in courts up and down the country. Frequently the support officers are from Citizens Advice or other local charities. Judges clearly see the value to society as well as participants in doing everything possible to avoid the misery and cost of eviction.
In the Guardian the writer take takes aim at government housing policy. That is not the purpose of this web post. Her column underlines the role of local advisers in local courts working to the benefit of local citizens and the community.
In April the government will close 91 courts nationwide including those in Reigate and Redhill. This will mean the end of local advice and support as described – and of any meaningful idea of local justice.
In October Citizens Advice Reigate & Banstead responded to the government’s consultation on local court closures**. Since then we continued to explain why the plan is a mistake. With a quite different purpose, the Guardian too shows why it should be scrapped.
** HMCTS Citizens Advice Reigate Banstead 6 Oct 15