Tenants

Sheltered housing

Sheltered housing offers independent living with support for people over 60 or people with disabilities.

The amount of support someone gets and how they get it can vary depending on their needs, but in general:

• each scheme has a Sheltered Housing Officer, who is available during normal working hours
• all schemes are linked to Enfield’s Community Alarm service, which provides a 24-hour response service to all tenants.

We recognise that different people have different support needs and that needs can change over time.

This is why we provide ‘support planning’ which also offers more flexibility. When you are assessed for sheltered housing, you will be asked questions about your support needs. This will go into your draft support plan. Once you have been accepted onto the sheltered housing waiting list and are offered accommodation, your Sheltered Housing Officer will go through your support plan in more detail. Support plans are reviewed as and when your support needs change or annually. They may include details of agencies that give you support. Your Sheltered Housing Officer will help you to live as independently as possible.

Who is eligible?

You may be eligible for sheltered housing if you are:

• over 60 and living in socially or privately rented accommodation
• over 60 and homeless, and approved as being eligible for council housing
• or between 55-60 with a proven need to live in sheltered housing.

If you exercise your right to buy your council home, you will no longer be eligible for sheltered housing, unless you qualify for extra-care sheltered housing. There is more information about this later in this section.