A variety of living options are essential to meet what different people need and want.
Good homes should meet your needs and all living options should support you to be more independent and included within your community.
Finding the right home and support can help your
- mental health, wellbeing and relationships
- involvement in activities
- and access to public services.
Tools like the REACH Standards help guide providers and individuals in understanding what good support should look like. Additionally, your social workers can support you to find the right choices for you. They can tell you more about ways to use money from the government to pay for your housing and support.
Check out Belfast Trusts Future Home Guide here.
Thanks to TILII Translates the Future Homes Guide is in Easy Read form too.
“Home is not just a building. It’s the people that live around you and the people that come and support you that make it your home.” – TILII member
Living Options
There are different living options available across Northern Ireland:
- Family home – Family members give you the support you need within your family home.
- Supported Living – You have your own home or live in a shared house and this model of support helps you to maintain independence.
- Care Home – You have a bedroom in a shared building and get 24-hour staff support.
Supported Living – NI Housing Executive
There can be many barriers to independent living for people with a learning disability. However there are programmes that are helping to overcome these barriers. For example, the Supporting People Programme helps people live independently in their communities. In Northern Ireland, the NI Housing Executive run the programme for the Department for Communities.
The programme provides funding to around 80 partners who deliver over 800 housing support services, helping up to 20,000 people across Northern Ireland. It has an annual budget of £80.69 million for 2024/25.
Quality of life in supported accommodation depends on more than just the building—it’s shaped by respectful attitudes, inclusive practices, and meaningful relationships! When support focuses on choice, dignity, and community inclusion, outcomes improve – See Me as a Human Being, DRILL 2020.
What is Housing-Related Support?
Housing-related support helps people live independently or prepare to move to more independent living. This support can include help with:
- Learning daily life skills.
- Improving social skills and managing behaviour.
- Finding new accommodation.
- Building social connections and activities.
- Accessing other services.
- Managing money and benefit claims.
- Setting up and maintaining a home or tenancy.
- Keeping the home safe and secure.
Care Home
Some homes offer full-time nursing care, others support people with a specific disability or medical need. Homes are run by local Trusts, private businesses or voluntary organisations.
The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) has a list of all registered homes in Northern Ireland or your Trust can help you find a home to meet your needs.
ARC NI advocates for and works towards
Good long-term planning and funding for housing and support.
More accessible housing options near public transport and other community services.
Person centred planning that involves individuals and families in decision making.
Better governmental working with housing and support providers.
Active solutions for finding and keeping skilled health and social care staff.