Care and Support

Whether it’s putting food on the table, keeping a home warm, learning the skills to stay independent, overcoming addiction, dealing with physical or mental health issues, or having access to activities, technology or equipment to improve quality of life, housing providers are always there, delivering facilities and services specially designed to meet our tenants’ specific needs.

That’s why we deliver so many training and employment schemes. These run the gamut from day to day skills such as personal development, learning how to manage household finances, and eating well on a budget to  IT skills, apprenticeships and work placements.

Choice Housing tenant Darren gained valuable IT skills and experience through the WorkChoice programme

We also support individuals and communities through food banks, initiatives to combat fuel poverty and increase energy efficiency,

These initiatives are often delivered through partnerships with other organisations and some have received financial support from EU sources such as the European Social Fund. With the future of such funding in question post-Brexit, it is important to ring-fenced, sustained funding for housing association training and employment schemes.

With our ageing population and the increased prevalence of dementia, need for supports for older people will continue to grow significantly over the coming years.

Radius Housing Associations, through Radius Connect 24, provides a range of technology-enabled support services to help people remain in their own homes as long as possible.

In addition, housing associations offer care and accommodation specially designed for older people, including those living with dementia.

Residential care and support services, such as those provided by Ark Housing and NB Housing, also help individuals and families, including refugees, who have experienced homelessness.

Ark Housing’s Roseville House team and tenants highlight the importance of the Supporting People programme

Many of these supports are delivered through the Supporting People programme and/or in partnership with other organisations such as Health and Social Care Trusts.

Funding for the Supporting People programme has been frozen for more than 10 years – even as demand for services continues to rise.

NIFHA calls on Government to increase and ring-fence funding for Supporting People to meet current and future need. Read more.