steps

East Sussex Floating Support Service

BHT Sussex now delivers the East Sussex Floating Support Service. This service was previously known as Home Works, STEPS East and STEPS West.

The Service provides short-term housing-related floating support across East Sussex for vulnerable people, aged 16+, who require support to live independently.

 

What the Service provides

mother and childOur team of experienced staff provide flexible, personalised, short-term support including preventing homelessness, managing a tenancy, money management and accessing healthcare. Support will be provided in people’s own homes, via phone or video call, or in community venues.

We support people who are:
  • At risk of losing their accommodation. This could include facing eviction because of landlord problems, being in rent or mortgage arrears, causing or experiencing anti-social behaviour, or being subject to domestic abuse, harassment or hate crimes
  • Requiring support to sustain their accommodation and live independently. We provide short-term support to resolve housing-related issues such as home adaptations and daily living equipment, reducing energy bills, dealing with utilities arrears, or acquiring suitable white goods and furniture
  • Living in temporary accommodation including hostels and bed and breakfasts who need support to access and maintain more sustainable accommodation
  • Living in unsuitable accommodation or unsafe situations. For example, if the property is over-crowded, in disrepair or is unsafe, including where there is domestic abuse, or a property is causing a health condition to deteriorate
  • Moving into new accommodation. We support people to find suitable accommodation, set up new tenancies and settle into a new home, with tasks such as setting up utilities, acquiring furniture and accessing local amenities and community support

We also signpost individuals and/or carers and family members to health and social care services, education, training and employment providers, and voluntary and community services that will assist with accessing and maintaining housing and living independently.

Eligibility

We welcome referrals for people who are resident in East Sussex, are aged 16 and over, are vulnerable and have support needs due to for example age, disadvantage, disability, substance misuse or ill health, and who are experiencing one or more of the following housing related issues:

  • is losing or is at risk of losing their accommodation
  • is living in temporary/emergency accommodation
  • is living in unsuitable housing
  • has no accommodation
  • requires resettlement support
  • requires support to maintain their independence or is at risk of losing their independence due to their housing situation
  • requires support to move to accommodation that will better meet their needs

The Service is not available for people who:  

  • are street homeless
  • are not ordinarily resident in East Sussex, including where people have been placed in temporary or other accommodation in East Sussex by another Local Authority

Accessing the Service

Residents aged 16-59

Residents aged 16-59 are required to be referred by one of the following organisations to be eligible for the Service:
  • East Sussex County Council Adult Social Care (ASC) and Children’s Services
  • Local Housing Authorities, including Rother District Council, Lewes and Eastbourne Councils, Wealden District Council and Hastings Borough Council
  • Care for the Carers
  • ASC commissioned Supported Accommodation Services
  • The East Sussex Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)
  • The Department for Work and Pensions
  • The Council’s Warm Home Check Service Provider
  • Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust
We are not able to accept self-referrals for people in this age group.

If you work for one of these services and wish to refer someone to us, please click here to fill in and submit a referral form. You will receive an emailed copy of your completed referral form.

Referred clients will be contacted within 2 working days of receipt of referral (or sooner if an urgent response is required).

If you do not work for a service listed above, please read the following information about where to obtain information about housing and or support needs:

  • If you or your client has care and support needs or cares for someone who does, Health and Social Care Connect (HSCC) offers the public and professionals a single point of access for adult health and social care enquiries, assessments, services and referrals
  • If you or your client has a child/children and their housing problems are placing the child/children at risk, contact the Single Point of Advice in Children’s Services
  • If you or your client, including those with children (whether or not they have care and support needs) are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, contact the local Housing Options Team

Contact details of our main referral agencies:

You can find out more about this service in our Information leaflet for those aged 16-59.

Referral enquiries e-mail: esfssreferrals@bht.org.uk

General enquiries telephone number: 01273 929394

Residents aged 60 and over

If you, or someone you know, is over 60 and in need of support with housing issues – from difficulties with debts and benefits, repairs, landlords and neighbours – to getting support to manage your mental health or substance misuse, you can apply for support.

Residents aged 60 and over can self-refer to the service or be referred by any individual or agency.

You can find out more about this service in our Information leaflet for those over 60 or call 0800 023 9380 (freephone) to refer yourself.

To refer an individual to this service, please click here to fill in and submit a referral form.

The person referred will be contacted within 2 working days of receipt of the referral (or sooner if an urgent response is required).

Downloads

Contact Details

Referral e-mail: esfssreferrals@bht.org.uk

Telephone for general enquiries: 01273 929394

Telephone for self-referrals: 0800 023 9380 (freephone)

Coronavirus Statement

As restrictions continue to ease, our first priority remains the safety and well-being of our clients, tenants, staff and contractors. We are following Government advice in line with announcements from Public Health England and our Local Authority partners and continue to take additional precautions in line with our own risk assessments.

As you will be aware, the situation can change quickly so we will continue to publish updates on our website.

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