Changes to the East Sussex Floating Support Service Eligibility Criteria

You have been directed to this page as you tried to access an East Sussex Floating Support Service Referral form that has been discontinued.

From the 7th of July 2025 the referral pathways and eligibility criteria for referrals to the East Sussex Floating Support Service are changing as we transition to the new service delivery from the 1st October 2025. Please find below the communication from the Commissioning Team about these changes:

Housing Related Floating Support Service - Changes to eligibility criteria from 7 July 2025.

Following consultation during autumn 2024, in May 2025, Full Council endorsed the proposed funding reduction of the Housing-Related Floating Support Service.

To manage the significant reduction in funding from 1 October 2025 and in recognition of reduced staffing levels it is proposed to introduce new eligibility criteria from 7 July, three months before the contract changes. This will reduce the potential for a waiting list and ensure that caseloads are manageable from 1 October.

Please note that where a referral is received on or before 4 July, where the service is unable to make contact within 5 working days, the case will be closed.

From Monday 7 July 2025, there will be three referral pathways:

Pathway 1) via Health and Social Care Connect (HSCC)

Eligibility Criteria

The person is, or ordinarily is, resident in East Sussex, is aged 16 and over, is vulnerable and has, or is likely to develop, care and support needs due to e.g. age, disadvantage, disability, substance misuse or ill health, and is experiencing one or more of the accommodation risks listed below:

  • Has no accommodation
  • Is losing or is at risk of losing their accommodation
  • Living in temporary/emergency accommodation
  • Living in unsuitable housing
  • Having trouble managing their housing
  • Requires support to maintain their independence/at risk of losing their independence due to their housing situation
  • Requires support to move to accommodation that better meets their needs

Exclusions -the Service will not be available to:

  • People who are street homeless
  • Not ordinarily resident in East Sussex, including where placed in Temporary or other Accommodation in East Sussex by another local authority
  • Aged under 16 years
  • Housed in a refuge
  • Housed in Supported Accommodation or Supported Living
  • Social Housing tenants
  • People moving into or living in Extra Care housing
  • People with Care Act eligible care and support needs and in receipt of Adult Social Care support
  • People open to the Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA Service)

Exceptions to the above Exclusions:

  • People with Care Act eligible care and support needs and in receipt of Adult Social Care support ONLY receiving OT aids/equip or TEC and/or those experiencing domestic abuse (where not housed in a refuge)
  • People with Care Act eligible care and support needs and in receipt of Adult Social Care support where they are unable to be discharged from an acute hospital because they are unable to return to their previous address

Pathway 2) via Children’s Services

Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Eligibility Criteria

Households including dependent children who are at risk of, or have received, an intentionally homeless decision as part of or following a homelessness application.

Pathway 3) via District and Borough Housing Teams

Eligibility Criteria

To be agreed at a local level.

Other referral routes

60+ Self-Referrals

People aged 60 years and over may refer themselves into the service. The Pathway 1 criteria will be used to determine eligibility for the service.

Under 60’s referring, back into the service

Currently, former beneficiaries of the Service may self-refer into the Service where they are at risk of becoming homeless within a specified period following an intervention. These self-re-referrals back into the service will no longer be accepted.

For referrers that are not able to directly refer to the service from the 7th July 2025 I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your referrals to the service and also for your support during the consultation period last year which has been very much appreciated.

If you have any questions or queries, please feel free to contact the service via email: [email protected].

Best regards

Paul Goddard - Assistant Director, East Sussex Floating Support Service

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