What Is The Floating Support Hub?

When it comes to housing needs, The Floating Support Hub can help. From financial struggles to personal home life challenges, they offer temporary assistance to help you get on your feet and establish the resources you need to move forward.

We chat with Floating Support Hub Worker, Helen Clarke, to learn more about what they offer and how you can get their support.

What is The Floating Support Hub?

The Floating Support Hub (FS Hub) Ards & North Down is funded by Supporting People. Six local floating support providers in the Ards and North Down area have come together within the Hub to deliver a centralised approach to floating support services in Ards & North Down. By doing  this, the Hub will allow individuals to access the most suitable floating support service for their needs. These services want to support individuals, promote independent living and  prevent homelessness. The FS Hub has one referral form for all six services.

What kind of situations can the Floating Support Hub provide support for?

If you are struggling with something that’s having a negative impact and makes managing your housing or home situation challenging, we may be able to help. 

We can help with:

-homelessness or at risk of homelessness

-rent arrears

-changes in family/home life

-issues with mental or physical health

-money issues, which can cause anxiety, stress and worry 

We can also help if you’ve just moved to a new home and need help to source essential items. We can help with budgeting or if you’re new to the area and want to know what’s out there locally for you. 

The six providers are NDYMCA Housing Support Service, BCM, The Link (Marc project), Inspire, SCNI floating support service, AGEnda. These six providers offer support for people having issues that affect their housing and can help with housing  issues, mental health, addictions, supporting young people, finances/benefits, older people services.

If I wanted to sign up for support, would I have to pay?

No, you don’t have to pay. 

This service is funded and delivered free to those living in the Ards and North Down area. What is required from you is that you want to engage with the support and regular contact  is agreed with you and the support worker.

How do I sign up for support?

By visiting the FS Hub website completing the referral form online and emailing it to info@floatingsupporthuband.org 

OR 

You can contact the Floating Support Hub worker Helen Clarke on helen@floatingsupporthuband.org . 

You can also ring Helen on 07591 840 404 who will be happy to chat with you about your options and will help with filling in the referral form.

Once I sign up, how soon after will I receive support?

When you return your referral form to the Hub. The Hub worker will let you know it’s been received and check the criteria for the service you have ticked on the form. If any more information is needed the Hub worker will contact you. This is to make sure that you have access to the right service for you. 

The FS Hub worker will then contact the service you feel best suits you and forward the referral. Once the service has your form, they will be in contact, normally within 2 weeks. This can vary depending on how many referrals are being processed, but you will be told when you can expect to be contacted. Those who are in urgent need of support will be prioritised. 

What can I expect in the support process and what does it involve? How long can a person receive support for?

Floating Support is short term support. It can be in place for a few weeks or a number of months, but will not be more than two years. Everyone is different and it depends on the needs and issues of each person. Floating Support is about promoting independence. The support worker will work with you through a step-by-step support plan and risk assessment. 

Floating Support is a confidential service, and once you have signed onto one of the six services, you can expect to be working with a support worker who will meet with you regularly and support you to address the issues, to help you feel more confident and ensure you have the information, useful contacts and resources for moving forward.