Lewisham Launches Housing and Debt Support Service 2026

Key Points

• Lewisham Council has approved a new borough-wide advice service to support residents with housing insecurity, debt and the rising cost of living.
• The service will be funded by the council but delivered by external providers, with an expected launch in April 2027.
• It will be modelled on organisations such as Citizens Advice, offering help with the benefits system, immigration matters and other financial challenges.
• Residents will be able to access support by phone and in person at libraries, community centres and food banks across the borough.
• The plans were approved by Mayor of Lewisham Liam Shrivastava and his Cabinet after a report on the proposed model and funding was presented at a meeting on 1 July 2026.
• Existing advice services are currently funded through the council’s Main Grants programme, but in 2025 the previous Labour administration decided that advice services should be commissioned separately.
• Cabinet Member for Communities, Sanctuary and Healing, Cllr Hau-Yu Tam, said demand for these services has risen in recent years due to the cost of living crisis and austerity.
• Cllr Tam said the new service will retain the high-volume telephone advice line while improving digital access, expanding outreach and focussing on early intervention and prevention.

Lewisham (South London News) July 9, 2026 – Lewisham Council has taken a significant step towards creating a new borough-wide advice service designed to help residents dealing with issues such as housing insecurity, debt and the rising cost of living, with the upgraded scheme expected to launch in April 2027 and to be accessible both by phone and in person across libraries, community centres and food banks.

What Exactly Is the New Housing and Debt Support Service Being Launched in Lewisham?

As reported by the official council announcement covering the 1 July 2026 Cabinet meeting, the expanded service is intended to function similarly to Citizens Advice, providing support to people struggling to navigate the benefits system alongside guidance on immigration matters and other financial challenges.

The council will fund the service but will not deliver it directly; instead, it will be delivered by external provider(s) selected through a commissioning process.

This approach reflects the decision made in 2025 by the previous Labour administration that advice services should be commissioned separately rather than being funded as part of the Main Grants programme.

The service is described as “borough-wide”, meaning it is not limited to specific wards or neighbourhoods but is intended to be available to all residents of Lewisham. Support will be provided in multiple formats, including:

• A high-volume telephone advice line, which is expected to remain a core part of the service.
• In-person help at locations such as libraries, community centres and food banks across the borough.
• Improved digital access, allowing residents to seek advice online.

Why Has Lewisham Council Decided to Create This Separate Advice Service?

According to Cllr Hau-Yu Tam, Cabinet Member for Communities, Sanctuary and Healing, demand for advice services has risen in recent years due to the cost of living crisis and austerity hitting Lewisham households hard.

As reported by the council’s meeting documentation, the new model is

“seeking to build on what already works well while strengthening the service for the future”.

The decision to separate advice services from the Main Grants programme and commission them on their own is intended to provide more targeted, consistent and sustainable support for residents facing complex issues such as housing insecurity and debt.

Mayor of Lewisham Liam Shrivastava and his Cabinet approved a report setting out the proposed model and funding arrangements at a meeting on 1 July 2026, which marked the key political decision moving the project forward.

How Will Residents Access the New Housing and Debt Support Service?

Residents will be able to access help over the phone through an existing high-volume telephone advice line, which will be retained as part of the new service.

In addition, people will be able to attend in-person sessions at locations including:

• Libraries across the borough
• Community centres
• Food banks

The service will also seek to improve digital access, meaning that residents may be able to seek advice online through dedicated web pages, email or possibly online chat systems, although the exact digital channels have not been detailed in the initial announcement.

The timing of the launch is set for April 2027, allowing the council and external providers time to establish contracts, recruit staff, set up premises and develop communication materials for residents.

What Changes Are Being Made Compared to Existing Advice Services in Lewisham?

Existing borough-wide advice services are currently funded through the council’s Main Grants programme. In 2025, the previous Labour administration agreed that these services should be commissioned separately, which has led to the current proposal for a dedicated, council-funded but externally delivered advice service.

The new service aims to:

• Retain the high-volume telephone advice line, ensuring continuity for residents who already rely on it.
• Improve digital access, expanding the ways in which people can seek help.
• Expand targeted outreach, meaning that services will actively reach out to harder-to-access groups or areas.
• Increase the focus on early intervention and prevention, so that problems such as debt or housing insecurity are addressed before they become more severe.

As Cllr Tam stated, the facets of the new service include

“retaining the high volume telephone advice line, while also improving digital access, expanding targeted outreach and increasing the focus on early intervention and prevention”.

What Types of Issues Will the New Service Cover for Lewisham Residents?

According to the council’s announcement, the service will focus on:

• Housing insecurity, which may include problems such as risk of eviction, poor living conditions, disputes with landlords or issues with housing benefits.
• Debt and financial challenges, including difficulties with loans, credit cards, utility bills and other personal debts.
• The benefits system, supporting residents who are struggling to understand or access Welfare benefits, Universal Credit or other forms of financial support.
• Immigration matters, offering guidance to residents who need help with immigration-related issues that may affect their housing, work or financial status.
• Other financial challenges linked to the rising cost of living, such as budgeting, energy costs and essential expenses.

The service is not intended to replace specialist legal representation or statutory housing services, but to provide advice, information and practical support to help residents understand their options and take appropriate action.

Who Decided to Approve the New Advice Service and When Was This Decision Made?

The plans for the service moved forward after Mayor of Lewisham Liam Shrivastava and his Cabinet approved a report setting out the proposed model and funding arrangements at a meeting on 1 July 2026.

This decision followed earlier strategic work, including the 2025 decision by the previous Labour administration that advice services should be commissioned separately from the Main Grants programme. The 1 July 2026 Cabinet meeting therefore represents the key approval point that authorises the council to proceed with contracting external providers and preparing for the April 2027 launch.

Background of the Development

This new housing and debt support service is being developed in the context of increasing pressure on local residents due to the cost of living crisis and long-term austerity measures.

Existing advice services in Lewisham have been funded through the council’s Main Grants programme, but in 2025 the previous Labour administration agreed that these services should be commissioned separately, paving the way for a more focused and sustainable model.

The current proposal reflects a decision by Mayor Liam Shrivastava and his Cabinet, who approved a detailed report on the model and funding at a meeting on 1 July 2026, marking the formal political endorsement of the project.

Cllr Hau-Yu Tam, Cabinet Member for Communities, Sanctuary and Healing, has highlighted that demand for advice services has risen in recent years, with housing insecurity, debt and benefits-related issues becoming more common among Lewisham households.

The intention is to build on what already works well while strengthening the service for the future, with specific emphasis on retaining the telephone line, improving digital access, expanding outreach and focusing on early intervention.

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Prediction: How Could This Development Affect Lewisham Residents and the Local Community?

The launch of a dedicated, borough-wide housing and debt support service in April 2027 is likely to increase the capacity for early intervention in cases of housing insecurity and debt, potentially reducing the number of residents who face eviction, severe financial hardship or prolonged struggles with the benefits system.

By providing multiple access points – phone, in person at libraries and community centres, and online – the service may make advice more accessible for people who previously found it difficult to navigate existing support, including those with limited digital skills, mobility issues or caring responsibilities.

As the service expands targeted outreach and focuses on prevention, it could help reduce the strain on emergency services, food banks and crisis housing by addressing problems earlier, which may indirectly benefit local organisations that currently deal with high levels of demand.

For Lewisham residents facing immigration-related issues that intersect with housing or financial problems, the inclusion of immigration guidance could provide a crucial additional layer of support, potentially reducing the risk of people being left without advice in complex, multi-issue situations.