Push 4 Safer Homes making homes, safe, warm and accessible. 

With most of Hampshire shivering in below average temperatures and experiencing severe night frosts and occasional snow storms leaving many residents extremely cold, but wary of turning the heating up to high due to heating costs. Push 4 Safer Homes may be able to help you live in a safer, warmer home.

Grants and Loans totalling £8million are available across the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH) area to make homes safer, warmer or more accessible.
Home Improvement Loans can be used for essential major home repairs. Winchester City Council already offers a Home Repairs Assistance Grant, operated by in touch Home Improvement Agency for those on benefits up to the value of £5,000. Now the Push 4 Safer Homes, Home Improvement Loan could help where the amount exceeds £5,000.
Accessible Home Loans could help disabled residents needing home adaptations not covered by other grants.
Both the Home Improvement and Accessible Home Loans are interest free, secured on the property, repaid when the property is passed on or sold.
Home owners and private tenants receiving benefits may be able to apply for a Warm Front Grant and Warm Front Top-Up to improve insulation or heating, enabling older people, disabled people and families with young children to live in warm homes.

PUSH Chairman, Councillor Seán Woodward, said: "The project focuses on more than just keeping people warm, it also offers interest free deferred payment loans to improve the safety and accessibility of the homes our residents live in."
Help for private Landlords to bring empty properties back into use in order to supply good quality, affordable, accommodation to help meet local housing needs is also available, the Landlord / Empty Home Loan is not interest free.
The Loans and Grants are available in the following local authority areas: East Hants, Winchester, Havant, Fareham, Southampton, Test Valley and New Forest.
For more information about the scheme or to arrange a personal visit call the hotline free on 0800 519 17 17 or visit our website at www.push.gov.uk/4_safer_homes 
Jackie Churcher
Push 4 Safer Homes
tel 02380 462444
e-mail: jackie.churcher@intouchsupport.co.uk