Housing Related Floating Support Service – Changes to Eligibility Criteria from 7 July

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 referral will be cancelled.

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

1) via Health and Social Care Connect (HSCC)

2) via Children’s Services

3) via District and Borough Housing teams; with eligibility as follows: 

• Pathway 1) via HSCC by email [email protected] or phone 0345 60 80 191 

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 Occupational Therapy aids/equip or Technology Enabled Care (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) for use by District and Borough Housing Teams only

Eligibility Criteria

To be agreed at a local level. 

• Pathway 3) 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. 

• OTHER

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.

Full details will be online from 7 July.  If you have any queries please email  Allyson King or Tamsin Peart for more information.