Housing Support projects provide practical help and support for people in temporary accommodation, helping them resettle into permanent tenancies.

Families projects

For some people the solution to their housing problem is very simple - a decent home. For others the situation is more complex.

Why families? 

Through our advice work we saw that some families found it difficult to move from temporary accommodation and settle into permanent homes. The Edinburgh Families Project was set up in December 1998 to support vulnerable families and help prevent them from becoming homeless again. Since then similar projects have started in South Lanarkshire, Glasgow and Dumfries. Despite receiving widespread recognition for the quality of its service, the Edinburgh project closed as a result a wholesale recommissioning exercise by City of Edinburgh Council in 2008/09.

Local authorities often have a duty to rehouse homeless families but their responsibilities usually end when a new house is provided. After months of waiting, a family is handed the keys to their new front door and left to fend for themselves. They may be miles from relatives, friends and community. They often have no furniture or carpets, or money to buy them. They will have been through the traumas of losing their home and finding themselves in temporary accommodation. They may have fled domestic violence and own little more than the clothes they stand up in.

Rebuilding lives

Housing Support projects offer practical help and support for families moving from temporary to permanent accommodation. This can range from negotiating with the local council on the family's behalf to helping furnish and decorate the new home. We can also provide support to help families regain their self-confidence and look at the reasons for past tenancy breakdowns, helping identify the steps that need to be taken to maintain a new tenancy, and so preventing recurrence of homelessness.

There is no set time limit for support, as this often depends on the length of time the family has to wait in temporary accommodation. Support workers continue to be involved once a family has secured a new tenancy, and can remain involved for several months. The aim throughout the work is to help the family resettle in their new community and equip them with the skills and confidence necessary to maintain a tenancy. For example, the project may offer advice on budgeting skills or employment opportunities.

Workers focus on helping families build links in their new community and refer them to local agencies for ongoing support. The project also works with Shelter Housing Advice Services to ensure that each family gets all the help and advice it needs.

Focus on children

Unique to the Housing Support Projects are our Child Support Workers, who operate in conjunction with the project workers to help children cope with the distressing effects that homelessness has on their self-esteem, schooling and relationships with friends and family. Examples of the support offered include:

• school liaison
• linking into nurseries or day care
• lending toys
• providing materials for art
• helping children get to know their new communities.

Keys to the Future

Each project has an Education Liaison Worker working with them, and offering support to children and young people affected by homelessness. This enables them to continue in their education with as little disruption as possible.

The postholders also work with local authority children's services, assisting them to create new solutions that help homeless children and young people to maintain and succeed in their education.

Support for single homeless people

Shelter Housing Support Dumfriesshire offers support to single homeless people moving from temporary to permanent accommodation.

About the project

This project supports men and women over the age of 16 without dependents, who are based in or wish to move into the area. The service provides both practical and emotional support, and also works with people who are at risk of losing their tenancies. We offer a wide range of services, including:

• assistance in obtaining appropriate temporary and permanent accommodation
• practical help with completing forms and preparing to move into accommodation
• support in claiming benefits
• help to access other specialist services people may require
• help in developing independent living skills
• emotional support
• assistance in talking to housing officers and other housing staff.

Emma's story

Emma, 17, is just one of the people the single homeless persons project has helped. She became homeless following difficulties arising in the family home. She stayed with friends for several weeks but didn't want to impose for any longer.

Emma turned down an offer of accommodation because it had a bad reputation and was over 20 miles from her friends and family. This meant she was not entitled to any other offers.

Emma went to her local CAB and was put in touch with Shelter. Shelter Housing Support worked on an appeal with Emma to get another offer, and provided advice and emotional support. Emma is now in supported accommodation and is looking for work.

(The names and some details have been changed here to retain anonymity.)

Volunteers needed

A key part of all Shelter's housing support projects is the contribution made by trained volunteers. They befriend people in transition and assist with decorating, gardening and accessing services in a new area. Find out how you can volunteer.

Contact details

Housing Support - Glasgow
First Floor Suite 2, Breckenridge House
274 Sauchiehall Street
Glasgow G2 3EH
Tel: 0344 515 2383

Housing Support - South Lanarkshire
66A Victoria Street
Blantyre G72 0BS
Tel: 0344 515 2500

Housing Support Dumfriesshire
95 Irish Street
Dumfries DG1 2NP
Tel: 0344 515 2390