Housing Support & Outreach Team

What is Housing Related Support?

Housing-related support helps vulnerable people to set up or maintain a stable home environment. It is a short-term service that aims to give individuals the skills and confidence to be able to live independently.

The Outreach Team work with individuals in North Lincolnshire who are street homeless and support them to find accommodation and refer to other relevant agencies.

What are the aims of Housing Related Support?

• To promote independent living skills in a way that maximises the service user’s ability to manage and maintain their housing.
• To increase service users’ confidence in and ability to respond to issues regarding tenancy related issues to help achieve independent living.
• To promote positive approaches to health and wellbeing.
• To promote opportunities for training, employment and volunteering.
• To prevent homelessness.
• To signpost to specialist services where required.

Where can support take place?

A person may need support in their own home, or in supported accommodation. The support might be needed for a wide range of reasons, and will be designed in partnership with professionals and the clients circle of support. Client engagement in the design of their own support will be aided through the use of the Outcome Star Framework.

People must be treated with dignity and respect and be enabled to maximise their independence by doing things for themselves.​​​​​​​

Support is specifically centred round the individual and not linked to the accommodation itself. The level of support will be determined through the assessment process and can vary between 1 hour to 3 hours per week.

For those needing low level support, maintenance and reassurance only, formal support may be closed but a Keeping In Touch Service will be provided so they have a continued link to support for reassurance.

What can you get support with?

• Support around benefits.
• Support to develop skills around budgeting, money management and dealing with debt.
• Support to understand responsibilities as a tenant or homeowner.
• Support to understand how to be a good neighbour and how to be better connected with your community.
• Support to deal with landlords, energy suppliers, council tax, services linked to the home keeping an individual/family safe and well.
• Support to access health services.
• Support to access training and employment
• Referrals and signposting to other services as required, such as money advice, legal advice, drug or alcohol services.

Is Housing Related Support right for you?

Housing related support does not include personal care, such as help with taking medication, washing or bathing, although if you have care and support needs, a care needs assessment will take into account your housing circumstances. This would then require a referral to Adult Social Services

Some information which may be useful to you may be found on the North Lincolnshire Council website:

https://www.northlincs.gov.uk/people-health-and-care/find-local-care-and-support-for-adults-or-older-people/getting-care-and-support/services-for-adults/

Housing Related Support does not provide assistance to carry out and complete basic daily activities that take place within the home, such as Cleaning, Shopping and DIY.

Who can apply for support?

Anyone who has an identified Housing Support need (examples given appendix 1)

Is there a cost to the support?

This depends on the type of service you wish to access. You will not be expected to pay for short-term services eg up to 6 months.

There may be a charge for longer-term housing related support services, whether you will need to pay for housing related support or contribute towards costs will depend on your personal circumstances.

How do you access support?

If you would like to access a housing related support service, you can ask a professional that you are currently working with to make a referral to First Stop, part of the Housing Advice & Support Service at North Lincolnshire Council.

Email: Firststop@northlincs.gov.uk

Tel: 01724 298339

Who is eligible?

Anyone over the age of 18 who is:

• Assessed as being in need of housing-related support, through the use of the attached referral, consultation with fellow professionals and an assessment form.
• Entitled to a means-tested benefit such as housing benefit or council tax benefit (for services over 6 months) or are in employment.