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Community and Accommodation Based Support (CABS)

What is Community and Accommodation Based Support?

The aim of Community and Accommodation Based Support is to help people to live independently in their own communities. We do this by providing two main types of service: Community Based Support and Accommodation Based Support.

Community Based Support (CBS) delivers short term, early intervention and prevention support in someone’s own home or through community drop-ins. It aims to help individuals to develop the skills and resources to become self-reliant, resilient and to live independently in the long term.

Accommodation Based Support (ABS) provides short-term accommodation for homeless people who have a range of complex needs e.g. substance misuse, mental ill health and contact with the criminal justice system.  

The support available includes things like help to:

  • maintain or move onto independent accommodation;
  • understand the responsibilities of payment of rent and service charges;
  • understand welfare benefit forms;
  • access health care, in particular GP services, mental health and drug and alcohol services; and
  • access education, training, employment or volunteering. 

It does not include support with physical or personal care.

Who is it for?

CBS supports people in any form of accommodation, regardless of whether they own or rent their home.  It can help people from early intervention and prevention through to intensive support for people in crisis.

ABS provides short-term placements and is for people who are homeless with multiple and high-level needs. The support aims to help people to develop practical skills and knowledge so that they can move on and live independently.  

How can I access support?

Community Based Support (CBS)

You can refer yourself or someone you know to CBS services by contacting the providers listed below for more information. 

Accommodation Based Support (ABS)

The referral process for ABS is called START and you will need to be referred into START by an agency such as a District Council, Social Care, the Police or Health Services to access ABS. 
ABS services are delivered by the following providers: