Sheltered Housing Projects

Cedar house Sheltered Housing is specially designed accommodation, available for rent, mainly for older people. It is also sometimes called retirement housing.

Within Tees Valley Housing Ltd our sheltered schemes are managed by our Supported Housing Team.

What does a Sheltered Housing Scheme provide?

There are lots of variations between sheltered housing schemes. However they usually provide many of the following features:

Self-contained flats with their own bathrooms and fitted kitchens
Many schemes include communal facilities such as a laundry, a communal lounge for social activities, gardens, and a guest room
A warden on-site service
24-hour emergency call centre assistance

What do Wardens do?

This varies according to the nature of the scheme and the needs of the residents. They usually:

Help newcomers to settle in and explain how everything works
Make regular contact with each resident
Deal with emergencies
Encourage social activities
Report and monitor repairs and maintenance work
Assess needs and, in consultation with residents, liaise with families, statutory, voluntary and private agencies to ensure these needs are met
Co-ordinate and give advice on services such as shopping, cleaning, cooking, personal and nursing care.

Who is Eligible for Sheltered Housing?

Different providers and landlords set different criteria but most state that you should be over 60.
We do not directly provide care but are able to assist residents to access care via social services.

How much does it cost?

You will pay a weekly rent plus a service charge.

The service charge includes the costs of the warden, cleaning, gardening and maintenance of common areas.

You may be entitled to assistance from housing benefit or income support - you will be advised about this on application.

There is a Supporting People charge set by the local authority’s Supporting People team. You may be entitled to assistance with this charge- you will be advised on application.

What are the benefits of living in Tees Valley’s sheltered housing?

Good quality housing
Your own front door
Security
Company of other residents
Independence
Remaining part of a local community
Peace of mind, with help on hand via the warden or 24 hour call centre in emergencies.

What should I look for in a sheltered housing scheme?

Be clear about what you want and decide which of the following factors are important to you:

Location and ease of access to shops, transport and surgeries
A design suitable for special needs (do you need a wheelchair or have sight difficulties?)
Communal facilities (are they what you want?)
Size and layout of flat (does it meet your needs?)
Warden (are they welcoming, informative?)
Cost, including the service charge
Other residents (what do they say about living there?)
Pets (do they allow pets?)

Location of Sheltered Housing Schemes

Tees Valley’s sheltered schemes are situated at:

CEDAR HOUSE, Foxwood Drive, Elm Tree Farm, Stockton-on-Tees, TS19 0XT

Tel No: 01642 671967

Comprising 20 one bedroom one person properties, 20 one bedroom two person properties and 2 disabled ground floor properties.

GRESLEY COURT, Burton Terrace, Saltburn-by-the-sea, TS12 1BT

Tel No: 01287 622402

Comprising 26 one bedroom two person properties.

MASCOT HOUSE, 131 Westgate Road, Newcastle, NE1 4AG

Tel No: 0191 222 0627

Comprising 30 one bedroom two person properties. Mascot House is a Chinese sheltered Housing scheme and applicants need to be of South East Asian origin.

How to Apply

Each of the local authorities in Darlington, Stockton, Redcar and Cleveland, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough operate a choice based lettings system called Compass.

If you are looking for accommodation in any of these areas or want to find out more about how choice based lettings works, please click on the following link. www.compasscbl.org.uk

Alternatively please contact customer services on 08000 461600 for a Compass application form.

Help for older people and independent living services

Middlesbrough

http://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/health-and-social-care/directory-of-services/

http://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/health-and-social-care/supporting-people/

Stockton on Tees

http://www.stockton.gov.uk/citizenservices/firstcontact/ads/indliv/goldguide/

Hartlepool

http://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/info/100010/health_and_social_care/1601/adult_social_care_supporting_people/4

Darlington

http://www.darlington.gov.uk/Health/AdultServices2010/KPSupportdirectory.htm

Sunderland