With unemployment expected to reach two million by the end of 2009, the work of housing organisations in supporting tenants to access training and employment has never been more important. On 4 December the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) launched a new toolkit that will give local councils and housing providers practical guidance on helping residents to become more economically active.

Figures show that more than half of social housing tenants of working age are without paid work, twice the national rate. During an economic downturn, residents who are marginalised because of their life circumstances, lack of skills and experience, are likely to find it even harder to get into training and work. The new CIH toolkit will support housing organisations to offer this important support to their residents.

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The new toolkit is sponsored by the new independent housing regulator the Tenant Services Authority (TSA) and includes the contributions of over 70 affordable housing providers.

In her foreword to the toolkit, Margaret Beckett, Minister for Housing and Planning, said: "I firmly believe that social housing should offer much more than a roof over people’s heads. It should also offer opportunities for people to realise their ambitions and fulfil their potential, and equip their children to do likewise. As this toolkit shows, social landlords have already helped literally thousands of people to overcome their difficulties and achieve their ambitions. We must now make sure this best practice is shared and adopted by all who wish to offer their tenants the best they can."

(CD/JM)