Are you aged 16-21, leaving care or homeless? If you’re thinking about getting your own place but feel you’re not quite ready to take it all on, Supported Housing can help you.
We have self-contained flats you can move into for up to two years and get support to be better prepared to run your own home in the future.
Our supported housing is staffed 24/7 by experienced housing and support workers. They will help you with:
- Making sure you have the right money coming in, setting up bank accounts, dealing with benefits offices and forms
- Budgeting, shopping, cooking, cleaning up, running your home
- Making your flat a home for you, personalising your space, painting, decorating
- Sorting out repairs and paying bills
- Registering with doctor and dentist,
- Improving your physical and mental health
- Keeping safe
- Being a good neighbour and getting involved in the community
- Building relationships with other young people and the staff
- Participating in MACS groups and events
- Establishing and maintaining links with other organisations that could help you
- Accessing training, education and employment
There’s more to living at MACS than what’s listed above, so talk to us about what support you would like and we’ll work with you to achieve your goals. We also offer lots of opportunities for you to give us your ideas, thoughts and feedback on what you would like to do and what we could do better.
Locations
Belfast
If you are aged 16-21 years old and are ready to leave residential or foster care, we may be the place for you. We have eighteen one-bedroomed flats in the University area, sixteen of these are for young people from the Belfast Trust area, and two for young people from the South Eastern Trust area. This accommodation is provided in partnership with Radius Housing Association.
Newry
If you are aged 16-21 years old and are ready to leave residential or foster care, we may be the place for you. We have seven one-bedroom flats for young people in the Southern Trust area. This accommodation is provided in partnership with Choice Housing Association.
Downpatrick
If you are 16-21 years old and ready to leave residential or foster care OR are homeless, we may be the place for you. We have six one-bedroom for young people in the South Eastern Trust area. We also have 1 ‘assessment flats’ for 16 – 17 year-olds who present to the Housing Executive as homeless and 1 ‘assessment flat’ for 16-17 year-olds who are unaccompanied or separated minors accessing support through the South Eastern Trust. This emergency accommodation is provided for up to 10 working days to allow the South Eastern Trust to assess your needs and work with you to create a move-on plan. This accommodation is provided in partnership with Clanmil Housing Association.
Lisburn
If you are 16-21 years old and ready to leave residential or foster care OR are homeless, we may be the place for you. We have seven one-bedroom for young people in the South Eastern Trust area. We also have 1 ‘assessment flats’ for 16 – 17 year-olds who present to the Housing Executive as homeless and 1 ‘assessment flat’ for 16-17 year-olds who are unaccompanied or separated minors accessing support through the South Eastern Trust. This emergency accommodation is provided for up to 10 working days to allow the South Eastern Trust to assess your needs and work with you to create a move-on plan. This accommodation is provided in partnership with Radius Housing Association.
What young people said
I feel like I am finally getting the right help since moving into MACS. Nobody seemed to know what they were doing before and since moving in here my CPN, Social Worker and Project Worker have all come together to support me.
One of the best supports I have ever had.
My time in MACS was good – it helped me to manage my anger and money. The only bad bit was when I had to leave. I learned how to budget and be independent. It helped me so much and I will be forever thankful.
More Information
Download the handbook for more information or find out how to get supported housing.