Supporting people

The supporting people programme helps vulnerable people to live independently by commissioning housing related support services through a partnership of local government, health, probation and other providers.  Services include domestic abuse refuges, homeless hostels, sheltered housing and floating support services.

Where to find help and apply for services

Supporting People services are accessed through the Housing Support Gateway

• Email: spteam@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
• Post: Supporting People, 4th Floor, HQ Building, Chester, CH1 2NP
• Telephone: 0300 123 2442 
• Housing Solutions service 
• Directory of Services (PDF , 701KB)
• Search for Supporting People Services in Cheshire 
  
  

Who can access supporting people services

You can access the services if you are:

• a young person at risk
• homeless
• at risk of domestic abuse
• suffering from mental health issues
• a teenage parent
• an older person
• a refugee
• someone with a physical or learning disability

Four types of housing related support services

• Accommodation based - Short term services designed to provide emergency accommodation and support for people in a housing crisis
• Floating support -  support to help people to live independently, by providing an individually tailored service; to maintain maximum independence.
• Home Improvement Agency and Handyperson service - support includes help with repairs or adaptations to the home or a one of garden tidy
• Community alarms - An alarm system is provided in a person’s own home to allow independent living and peace of mind if there is an emergency.

Payment

Support services are either 'short-term' or 'long-term'. 

• Short term schemes last for up to two years and are free to use.  Examples of short term services include homeless hostels and women's refuges.
• Long-term services provide support on a continuous basis and are often characterised as open-ended.  A community alarm service is an example of a long term service. 

If you get housing benefit you can claim help towards the cost of the service.  If you do not get housing benefit you may still be able to get help towards the cost of the support charge. If you have less than £23,250 in savings you can ask for a financial assessment to see if help can be given.

• Fairer charging application form (Word 268KB)

Case studies

See people who have benefited from the Supporting People programme tell their stories on the CheshireWestTV website.

• Emmie's story 
• Peter's story   
• Mac's story  
• Joe and Dawn's Story (PDF , 14.7KB)
• Peter's Story - Chester Lodgings and Support Provider (PDF , 19.3KB)
  
• Move-On Stories (PDF 18kb): Stories of four young women that have successfully moved on from Forum Housing's homeless and teenage parent projects