Sheltered housing

COVID-19 and sheltered housing

Due to COVID-19 the sheltered housing team are currently only able to complete telephone assessments and are prioritising urgent cases.

Examples of urgent cases include:

• where a person may need to be moved because their health issues places them at high risk of Covid-19 in a shared environment
• where a person is at risk to Covid-19 in their current environment
• where there are safeguarding concerns such as domestic violence
• other risk factors such as high risk of fire or flood

What is sheltered housing?Sheltered housing supports older people to live independently in the community and to maintain a tenancy of their own.  There are a number of sheltered housing schemes in Camden and information about each of the schemes is available in a downloadable booklet.

• All sheltered housing schemes have a scheme manager to ensure the smooth running of the building and support the residents where possible.
• There is a 24 hour alarm service, run by Careline Telecare that enables residents to summon help in an emergency.
• You can rent a sheltered housing flat either from the Council or from a local registered social landlord, also known as a housing association.

Who can apply for sheltered housing?

The sheltered housing service is available to people who:

• are eligible to join the housing register
• are living in unsuitable housing conditions or in accommodation that is difficult to get around in and which cannot be adapted;
• are living in accommodation that is too large for your needs;
• are homeless;
• have care and support needs that cannot be met in your current home;
• are aged 65 or over. If younger than 65, exceptions can be made if the applicant has a serious disability or medical condition.

Note: Applicants must meet all the criteria in order to be eligible for sheltered housing.

Examples of support you can expect from a scheme manager

A scheme manager's job is wide-ranging and aims to ensure you stay independent and have a good quality of life. Below are examples of duties completed by a scheme manager:

• Assess your needs and agree a support plan with you. Review the support plan regularly. (You, your family or your carer can ask for a review at any time)
• Help in emergencies, for example if you have a fall or are ill
• Help with registering with a GP, dentist and other services
• Help with reporting repairs needed in your home
• If you need support that a scheme manager cannot provide he or she will help you to find services that provide it.