In June 2009 we undertook a review of our service, changing the way we worked in order to provide our customers with more choices and ensure they received the type of support they needed. The Changes to Our Service on the right shows most of the changes we have made.
Sheltered and Supported Housing is usually provided for people who are over the age of 60, are vulnerable due to ill health, frail or elderly. We currently have over 60 sheltered schemes containing over 2,000 units, ranging from purpose built accommodation, studio flats and bungalows to multi storey flats. A Supported Housing Officer visits and/or contacts our customers regularly at a time suitable for them.
Most of our schemes have a communal area where residents and tenants living nearby can gather for social events such as coffee mornings and other activities. Each purpose built complex has a communal laundry comprising of at least one washing machine and tumble drier and a communal kitchen for use by the residents. Some schemes have a ‘guest room’ which can be rented out to family members who don’t live locally. The What is Sheltered Housing? booklet answers common questions and is available to download on the right. The Guide to Sheltered Accommodation lists where our sheltered housing schemes are located. You can also take a look at what is available at each scheme by checking out the Scheme Profiles pages from the links on the right. There is also a 'Welcome to Sheltered & Supported Housing' booklet that gives more information about what our service offers.
Most of our sheltered and supported accommodation is fitted with an ‘alarm’ connected through to Care Ring which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This acts as an emergency service that they can call on if they feel ill, or have a fall or need any other urgent help, residents can also use a pendant to call for help. For those that do not have this connection, we can arrange to have them connected.
If you are considering a property in a sheltered and supported complex it is probably because you feel that you can no longer cope in your original family home but you do not want to move into a ‘Care’ home. You will want to retain your independence by living in your own home, but sheltered and supported housing can give you the assurance that there is someone there if needed.
Available sheltered and supported housing is advertised on the Leeds Homes Website www.leedshomes.org.uk.
For further information please call 0800 915 6660 to be put in touch with local housing staff or e-mail avhleeds.shelteredservicesteam@avhleeds.org.uk.