Housing

Where to go for information and support about housing and accommodation:

Sheffield City Council

Sheffield City Council Housing webpage: https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/content/sheffield/home/housing.html

For Housing Support and Advice from Sheffield City Council see this page from the Sheffield Directory

Sheffield City Council Supported Living Information Sheet

Housing Benefit

For information about Housing Benefit, eligibility, what you’ll get and how to apply see: https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/content/sheffield/home/benefits/housing-benefit.html

Council Tax Support (which used to be called Council Tax Benefit)

If you need help to pay your Council Tax, you may be able to claim Council Tax Support. Council Tax Support replaced Council Tax Benefit, and is also known as Council Tax Reduction.
For information see https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/content/sheffield/home/benefits/council-tax-support.html
and https://www.gov.uk/apply-council-tax-reduction/sheffield

Council Tax Reduction for Disabled People

To qualify for a reduction, your property must be the main home of at least one disabled person. This can be an adult or a child – it doesn’t have to be the person responsible for paying the Council Tax.
Your property must also have features that are essential, or of major importance, to the well-being of the disabled person.
For full details see:  https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/home/council-tax/council-tax-discounts-exemptions

Sheffield Health and Housing Team

This service is for anyone who has health problems which makes living in their current home difficult.
We can help people:
– who have severe mobility problems and can’t reach basic amenities in your home
– who need to live nearer your carer for essential support for daily living
– who have long term physical or mental health problems and your housing situation is having a detrimental effect on your ability to live independently
We can:
– advise you on your Housing Options including staying in your home and adaptations
– help you explore your housing options if you have to leave your home
– assess your housing need and, if appropriate, assist you to move urgently through Priority re-housing
Contact us by phone 0114 273 5522 during office hours or by email healthandhousingneeds@sheffield.gov.uk

Sheffield Shared Lives Scheme

Shared Lives supports independent living for adults across Sheffield. Those who could use extra support:
– may have a learning, physical or sensory disability
– have mental health needs
– be struggling to cope
– want support with daily living skills
– require support to access the community
Shared Lives provides trained carers who offer extra help and support different ways to meet specific needs.

Types of care: for more information about the three main types of care and support offered by Shared Lives in the carer’s own home, and about eligibility for the scheme, see https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/sharedlives

or Telephone 0114 2735275

Housing Associations

For Housing Associations see: https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/content/sheffield/home/housing/housing-associations.html

South Yorkshire Housing Association

Learning Disabilities: https://www.syha.co.uk/livewell/learning-disabilities/

Multiple Needs: https://www.syha.co.uk/livewell/living-well/

Disability Sheffield Housing Factsheet

can be downloaded here: Disability Sheffield housing-factsheet

HOLD – Home Ownership for People with Long-Term Disabilities

This government-sponsored scheme is one of several shared ownership schemes. The HOLD scheme gives people with long-term disabilities an opportunity to purchase a share in a Shared Ownership home and live independently.

Download more information about the scheme:  HOLD Scheme Information
See also HOLD Flyer  and the MySafeHome website here: http://www.mysafehome.info/

Lets for Life

housing solutions for people with learning disabilities with complex support needs. Lets for Life work alongside private landlords and investors to create sustainable and suitable housing options: http://www.letsforlife.org.uk/

Disabled Facilities Grant Scheme

A government scheme to help disabled or older people to pay for aids and adaptations to their homes.

You can download the government’s guidance document and how to apply here: Disabled Facilities Grant guidance

Housing and Support Alliance (now renamed as Learning Disability England)

has lots of excellent information about housing options, including guides and factsheets to download. See for example:

http://www.housingandsupport.org.uk/housing-and-support-options
http://www.housingandsupport.org.uk/8-ways-to-get-a-house-bf
https://www.housingandsupport.org.uk/resources-and-library

The Reach Standards

‘The Reach Standards are an essential tool in helping providers to meet their responsibilities to support people to live an ordinary life.
That is why we recommend that providers consider how The Reach Standards are met when developing and providing services for people with a learning disability and/or autism.

The Reach Standards have been designed for use by people with a learning disability and/or autism, their families, teams managed by a
person and their family, housing and support providers, regulators, the NHS and local authorities. They provide a benchmark for quality and aspiration. They hold a person at the centre in any consideration of their housing and support – in other words, in any consideration of their lives.”

Here you can download A Practical Guide to The Reach Standards 2019

Shelter

Shelter’s South Yorkshire hub is based in Sheffield. The hub offers free specialist housing advice, support and guidance if you are homeless, facing homelessness or simply need advice about a housing related issue. See the Shelter website here.

On the design of housing / residential accommodation for autistic adults see:

Homes That Work: A Resource Guide for Families Living with Autism Spectrum Disorder + Co-occurring Behaviors (American) by George Braddock and John Rowell

“Most people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can live with their families independently or with supports, and do well in conventional housing. But for people with signifcant ASD and additional medical or behavioral challenges, most conventional housing does not work. These individuals, their families and  their caregivers often face profound challenges because of the  inadequacy of their homes. An inadequate environment can directly influence the decision to place an individual with ASD in out-of-home care.”

Download here homes_that_work_091511

Living in the Community: Housing Design for Adults with Autism by Andrew Brand / Kingwood trust

To download this study click here
The environment in which an autistic adult lives can have a profound impact on their health and wellbeing. Providing the right setting can help to enhance motivation, confidence and self-esteem. This project brought together the autism charity The Kingwood Trust and the Royal College of Art Helen Hamlyn Centre in a research partnership to explore how design could improve living environments for autistic adults, support their specific needs and improve quality of life. The key findings from the study are published here for wide readership with particular focus on housing providers, architects and designers involved in the design, refurbishment and development of residential accommodation for autistic adults.

See also

The Housing Support and Care Options section in the Sheffield Guide to Independent Living.