Across our communities, too many people aged 55 + with long term health conditions are living in insecure housing, facing the threat of eviction, unsuitable living conditions or requiring aids and adaptations or looking to downsize.
Our Housing Advocacy Project is here to ensure older people get the support to challenge these housing related issues.
Whether someone is renting privately, living in temporary accommodation, or facing challenges with landlords or housing services, our advocates will ensure their voice is heard and their rights are upheld.
What We Do
Our advocates work one-to-one with each person to:
- Understand their situation — listening carefully to their experiences and what matters most to them.
- Navigate complex housing systems — helping people access advice, apply for social housing, or challenge unfair decisions.
- Connect with other services — including health, social care, and financial support, so that housing isn’t dealt with in isolation.
- Empower choice and control — making sure older people can make informed decisions about their own housing and wellbeing.
This person-centred approach means we put those we support central in all that we do.
Poor or unstable accommodation can worsen physical and mental health, increase isolation, and make it harder to access care. For some, the stress of not knowing what to do or where to turn can further impact on their overall wellbeing.
Housing Advocacy Support in Action
Phyliss struggled maintaining her flat and she became more and more depressed as time went on. Phyliss had poor mobility and relied on a walker to help her move around. Her flat, in particular the kitchen, was in need of repairs however, Phyliss neither had the strength or inclination to do anything much about it.
When a call for support was made, one of our advocates visited Phyliss at her flat. They sat together and talked about what was most important to her.
The advocate:
- Contacted the housing office to report the repair issues and request an inspection.
- Contacted Adult Social Care for an assessment of her care needs
- Linked with her GP and other services to support with utility bills and finance concerns.
- Created a simple plan and next steps, so that she didn’t feel overwhelmed by everything that needed doing.
Comment from Phyliss “I didn’t know that such support existed. I couldn’t see a way out and people have been so kind to me”. There is still a little way to go before Phyliss has everything she needs. With her advocate by her side, she feels sure that she will get there. If you are finding yourself in a similar situation to Phyliss or know someone who could benefit from our help, please contact us to find about about our Housing Advocacy Support Service (HASS).
*Please note that the name in this article has been changed to protect anonymity