Deborah’s Story: A Fresh Start in Sheltered Housing
After a period of moving between friends’ and family members’ homes, Deborah found herself without a stable place to live. Realising she needed a more secure, long-term solution, she reached out to Housing Options Scotland (HOS) for support.
Within just 24 hours, our emergency homelessness team contacted Deborah to offer immediate guidance. Her broker advised her to get in touch with her local authority’s homelessness team as a first step. As Deborah was over 60, we also provided tailored information about sheltered housing options that could better suit her needs.
Once Deborah was formally allocated a housing broker, we began reaching out to sheltered housing providers in her preferred areas to check for available properties. When Deborah expressed interest in a specific development, her broker encouraged her to submit an application right away.
After Deborah applied, we contacted our sheltered housing connection to highlight her interest which was especially important as there were current vacancies at the development she was drawn to.
Thanks to this joined-up approach, Deborah was offered a home and she accepted!
She described the experience as a huge weight lifted off her shoulders. Without the support of HOS, she said she might never have known about sheltered housing, available vacancies, or where to begin. At Housing Options Scotland, we use every connection and resource available to help our clients find safe, suitable, and sustainable homes.
Daniel’s Story: Building the Path to Independence
In September, Daniel’s dad, Callum, reached out to HOS after struggling for a long time to find the right housing solution to support Daniel in moving out of the family home.
Daniel has lived with his family his entire life, and while the idea of independent living had been discussed for some time, progress had been slow. Despite repeated efforts, the family felt they were getting nowhere with the local authority, leaving them feeling stuck and frustrated.
Eventually, a potential opportunity emerged. A shared property with a friend. It seemed like a step forward, but hopes were dashed when the Occupational Therapist assessed it and found it was unsuitable for Daniel’s needs. Once again, they were back to square one.
That’s when they turned to HOS for guidance. Understanding the need for a more joined-up approach, our broker recognised that the best first step would be to bring together everyone involved in Daniel’s support network. We arranged a meeting with Daniel’s family, his social worker, and a representative from the local authority’s housing team to ensure all voices were heard and aligned around Daniel’s needs and aspirations.
While a housing solution hasn’t been secured yet, this meeting marks a crucial turning point in Daniel’s journey. At HOS, we know that the path to independent living often begins with collaboration and open communication. We’ll continue to stand alongside Daniel and his family every step of the way until the right home is found and Daniel can begin a new chapter, living independently with the right support in place.
Rebecca’s Story: From Uncertainty to a New Beginning
Rebecca first contacted HOS after finding herself in a property she really liked, but the issue was that it was temporary accommodation. She was eager to make it permanent but had been told this wasn’t possible.
Our broker reached out to understand her situation more fully and to explore how HOS could help. Rebecca explained she had been offered an alternative property (one she had previously turned down) and was told the tenancy on her temporary accommodation couldn’t be changed. After talking it through, our broker encouraged her to carefully consider the offer. In the end, Rebecca accepted the tenancy.
However, a few months later, she got back in touch. She hadn’t settled in the new property and was finding it difficult to see it as a long-term home. Aware of the limited availability of social housing, our broker knew that finding another option could be challenging. But Rebecca could explore sheltered housing. Fortunately, a vacancy had come up in a nearby development.
Our broker contacted a trusted connection at the sheltered housing provider, and soon after, Rebecca was offered a property which she gladly accepted. She is now waiting to receive the keys and is feeling hopeful and excited about her future in a place that better suits her needs.
Other agencies may have told Rebecca she was suitably housed in her new accommodation and wouldn’t have worked with her to find alternative housing. However, HOS went the extra mile to ensure all other options were explored for Rebecca so that she was happy and settled.
Jamie’s Story: Turning Anxiety Into Action
When Jamie was served with a Notice to Leave, the stress and uncertainty quickly became overwhelming. They found it incredibly difficult to talk to anyone about their housing situation, let alone explore potential solutions. Thankfully, Jamie’s mum recognised that support was needed and, with Jamie’s permission, contacted HOS for help.
After speaking with our broker, it became clear that Jamie actually had several possible options. These included applying as homeless, exploring private rentals, or even looking into buying a home, either independently or with support from a family member.
Following further discussions with Jamie and their mum, the family decided that purchasing a property for Jamie would be the most realistic and secure long-term option. To support this, our broker provided detailed information about the various buying routes available, tailored to Jamie’s situation.
Armed with this knowledge, Jamie’s mum decided to take the next step and speak with a financial advisor to explore mortgage options. Discussions with a mortgage broker are now underway, and the family is actively considering the best way forward.
Our broker will continue to support Jamie and their family throughout this process, ensuring they feel confident and informed as they move toward securing a permanent home. Without HOS, Jamie might never have known about the full range of options available to them. With the right support and information, what once felt like an overwhelming situation has become a path forward and Jamie now has hope for a stable, secure future.