Home: Tenants: Extra Help & Advice
Extra Help & Advice
In addition to our general housing management service, we also offer intensive housing management, floating support and advice to help tenants maintain their tenancies and live independently. This is provided by our Supported Housing Team, Colne Plus+.
Supported Housing
The Society has various arrangements in place to assist people who, for one reason or another, may require support to help them live independently. Access to the Society’s supported housing arrangements is through nominations from the local authority, primary care trust or support agencies.
For more information contact support@colnehousing.co.uk.
Support in our Retirement Housing Schemes
We own and manage almost 200 properties for retired people aged 55 and over across Essex. In these schemes we employ a Retirement Scheme Officer who provides support to enable our tenants to live independently for as long as they wish. We also provide a careline connection for peace of mind in emergencies.
This support is paid for via the rent and is called a Support Charge. If you receive housing benefit this charge is paid by the Supporting People at Essex County Council for you. If you pay your own rent, you must pay your own Support Charge along with the rest of your rent. The support you receive whilst living in retirement housing is integral to your tenancy and is permanent.
For more information or to apply, see Apply for Sheltered Housing.
If you want to know what other housing and care options may be open to you, we recommend you contact your local council or the Elderly Accommodation Council on 020 7820 1343 or at their web site – www.housingcare.org. They provide information on a wide range of housing care options available across the country.
Floating Support Services
Floating Support can help you successfully maintain your tenancy, particularly through challenging times in your life. When you receive Floating Support you are allocated a support worker for between 6 months and 2 years to help you keep your tenancy.
Floating Support workers can help with a variety of activities:
- claiming benefits and grants
- managing your debts
- getting adaptations done in your home
- getting connected to utilities
- settling into a new community
- finding more suitable housing for you.
In the Colchester, Braintree, Maldon and Tendring areas Floating Support is provided by Swan Housing and is open to anyone regardless of what type of housing you live in.
To refer yourself, telephone 0845 6122551, visit Swan Housing or text 07710728011. As a tenant of Colne Housing, we can also refer you and we will work alongside your support worker to help sort out problems and aim to keep your tenancy running successfully. If you would like to know more, contact your Housing Officer on 01206 244700.
