Sussex Housing & Care joins national campaign to celebrate supported housing | News

Sussex Housing & Care is highlighting the contribution supported housing makes to Sussex as part of today’s national ‘Starts at Home’ Day.

Promoted by the National Housing Federation over the last five years, Starts at Home Day celebrates how supported housing helps hundreds of thousands of people regain their independence and confidence.

Housing associations provide a wide range of vital supported housing services including sheltered accommodation, enabling older generations and those with disabilities to live more independently.

The experience of supporting people through the pandemic has shown the value of care and support services, and the difference that having a safe and secure place to live can make to people’s lives.

Sussex Housing & Care’s support comes as housing associations call on clarity from the Government on long-term funding, so that we can provide homes for people with support needs and train, retain and support dedicated frontline staff.

The National Housing Federation and its members are campaigning to persuade the Government to commit to reinstate the £1.6bn ring-fenced budget for housing related support, so that every person who needs extra assistance has a safe, secure home that meets their needs and enables them to live independently, well and with dignity.

Sussex Housing & Care is joining our fellow members at the National Housing Federation to ensure that every person in Sussex who need extra support, has a home to turn to.

To celebrate, below we share some of our resident’s stories about what supported housing means to them:

Vincent Friend, who now resides at Nevill Court in Crowborough adds, “Sussex Housing & Care have helped me immensely. My wife and I moved to the Rowans (another Sussex Housing & Care scheme in Crowborough) seven years ago. After my wife passed two years ago, I found I needed a cheaper, smaller apartment on the ground floor, so Sussex Housing found me this lovely place at the Nevills.” Vincent, who underwent a triple bypass last year concludes, “Our scheme manager Wendy is excellent and the community here is so supportive”.

Sylvia Dean, a resident at Yvonne Robertson House in Bexhill, sadly lost her husband about 24 years ago. A friend told her about sheltered housing schemes, but Sylvia wasn’t ready at the time to leave her home.

Sylvia then went on to live in Eastbourne, and found herself having to contend with stairs and no lift, so her daughter did some research and discovered Sussex Housing & Care. That was seven years ago and Sylvia has never looked back.

“I love having my own door, front and back”, says Sylvia. “If you like socialising, you can mix and involve yourself as much (or as little) as you like! I enjoy helping to organise events from time-to-time, and there’s the added benefit of security and help if you need it. I’m also lucky enough to have my own garden which keeps me busy. The support of Sussex Housing & Care has been wonderful, especially during the pandemic; all residents were offered craft packs which were so thoughtful and a godsend during lockdown. Thank you Sussex Housing & Care!”

Photo: Sylvia Dean with scheme manager, Ian Collins at Yvonne Robertson House

Tracy Evans, Chief Executive at Sussex Housing & Care says:

“Our supported housing schemes all provide a vital service to their communities and residents. Through providing housing and services such as community events, our supported housing schemes offer people both independence and support. We continually strive to ensure residents are getting the best and most efficient service possible.

“Supported housing helps people to live independently and achieve their aspirations in a safe and secure home. It is a critical time for supported housing; we must highlight how vital a lifeline it is to so many vulnerable people and show Government why supported housing should be put on a secure and sustainable footing for the future.”

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