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What is supported housing?

Supported Housing

Who is supported housing for?

Support is available to people with a wide range of care and/or support needs, for example:

  • people with physical disabilities
  • older people
  • people with mental health needs
  • people with learning disabilities
  • young people leaving care and those setting up home for the first time
  • people with alcohol and/or substance misuse problems
  • people fleeing domestic violence
  • homeless people in temporary accommodation
  • other people who need support to live independently

We can help signpost people to the services that they need - contact us if you, or someone you know, is in need of supported housing.

Types of supported housing

Care and support can be provided from either a few hours per week to 24 hour on-site support, depending on the type of service and the needs of the people who use it.

Floating support is provided when you live independently in a home of your own, but receiving regular visits from a Support Worker who will help with matters you find challenging.  This can include things like

  • help in organising your money matters, such as paying your rent and bills, or claiming the benefits you are entitled to 
  • jobs around the house that you cannot manage, such as shopping, cleaning, preparing your food, doing laundry, and so on
  • support to find out about, and get involved in, social activities in your community
  • practical support to manage your medication, find out about your rights, local transport, jobs, and so on
  • someone to talk to about emotional and physical issues

Accommodation based services provide housing support within the accommodation, such as

  • Sheltered housing, for accommodation which is specially adapted for older people and for other people with physical disabilities, mental illness, or learning difficulties
  • Hostels, group homes, and direct access shelters, such as refuges for domestic violence or accommodation for homeless people
  • Move-on flats, for people who want to learn to live more independently, such as young people leaving foster care, those with learning difficulties, ex-offenders, or recovering from substance misuse
Factsheet 11 - Supporting People (0.05Mb)

A factsheet on housing related support for vulnerable people