Housing

Where People Live

A house People live in different places.

Group homes where staff stay to help with care and living.
Flats where people live independently by themselves or with housemates.
Supported housing where staff call in to help with some jobs.
At Home with parents or carers or by themselves.
Hospitals where people can get special medical care.

Living in a group home

Group homes are where more than one person lives in a house with staff.
Group homes are run by the local Council, Health Trust or by Private Companies.
In a group home your rent is usually paid by the Council or Government.
You should have a say in choosing who works in the home.
You have rights because this is where you live.
There will be a Home Manager who is responsible for you getting your rights.
Sometimes group homes try to restrict your independence.

Living in your own flat

A flat is where you choose to live either independently or with housemates.
In your own flat you are responsible for all the bills, chores and property.
Your flat will have a landlord who might be private or the Government.
You have rights because you will have a contract with the landlord.
You can get support from Social Services or the Health Trust if you need it.
Living in your own flat is a good way of having independence.

Living in supported housing

Supported housing is where one person or a group live in a flat and get regular visits from support staff.
Support workers might be from Social Services, Health Trusts, or Charities.
People in supported houses are responsible for bills, chores and looking after the house, but their support worker helps them manage.
Supported housing is a good way of having independence.

Living at home

Living at home is where you live with a faily member or carer.
How much responsibility you get depends on the people you live with and on how much you want.
If you aren't getting your rights you have choices to get them.
Find out what your choices are by asking an advocate or advocacy group.
If you live at home your carer should get a discount on Council Tax.

Living in a hospital

Hospitals are where people can get special medical care.
There are also long-stay hospitals where people with learning difficulties used to live. Most of these have been closed or are going to close.
Some hospitals let you have little or no responsibility.
If you live in a hospital and want to move somewhere else ask an advocate, the staff, a self-advocacy group or your key worker.