Please note this service came to end in June 2023.
Preventing repeated homelessness by supporting people to maintain new and current tenancies
How did the Independent Living Service support people who are homeless?
The main aim of the service was to prevent repeated homelessness from occurring by supporting people to maintain new and current tenancies and avoid eviction. We supported people living in both private rented accommodation and housed with social landlords.
“Some of the people who access our service have no other support, no family, no friends and therefore very limited access to help and support. If you struggle to read and write, or English isn’t your first language, then the support we offer is crucial to maintaining a tenancy and becoming independent.”
Viv Dickinson, Accommodation Services Manager
We helped in a variety of ways, some of which included:
- Helping with phone calls, forms and letters
- Attending appointments with service users
- Opening bank accounts or joining the credit union
- Helping to access to welfare rights support
- Finding education courses, volunteering or employment
- Engaging in local community activities and groups
- Obtaining basic household items; cookers, beds, bedding
- Developing and maintain healthy relationships
- Referrals to food banks and other community food provision
- Liaising with landlords over rent and repairs
- Providing emotional support
- Helping with budgeting
- Advocating for service users with other agencies
Staff Spotlight: Jo, Independent Living Support Worker
“I provide tenancy support for people who have recently been housed and are in need of support. Most importantly I help keep people in their tenancies by signposting to appropriate services. I’ve been working in the ILS team for one year and I’m currently working with around 20 people.
“My service users are mainly living in private rented tenancies, housing associations or council properties. My referrals mainly come from the council’s Nottingham Private Rented Assistance Scheme (NPRAS), as well as Emmanuel House’s Single Support Service, our Winter Shelter and Framework.
One of my current clients is a 55-year-old who has learning disabilities. He was living with his father but had to leave the property when his father died and ended up sleeping in his car. Having been found by the Street Outreach Team, he moved into Emmanuel House’s Winter Shelter. Because of his specific needs, he was supported by Housing Aid who found him a property.
He can’t read or write, so I support him with paying his bills and filling in forms. I help with his motability certificates and the paperwork required.
Every day is different. There is a lot of variety and change in every day. I meet a lot of different and brilliant people. It is incredibly rewarding.”
Mary’s story:
Mary* left her partner after 3 years of physical and emotional abuse. When she left, she was street homeless for 2 weeks before being referred by the Street Outreach Team.
She was then helped by Nottingham Private Rented Assistance Scheme (NPRAS) to access her current accommodation. NPRAS referred her to Emmanuel House’s Independent Living Service as soon as she became housed.
Since accessing support, Mary has been helped by her support worker to make a claim for benefits, access health provision, and look for work. With support she is now working part time and settling into her accommodation and managing her tenancy.
Our Independent Living Service helped a variety of beneficiaries all who require support in obtaining and maintaining a tenancy. Without the service, beneficiaries can become stuck in the cycle of repeated homelessness and our support workers worked alongside those they were supporting to ensure this didn’t happen.
