Homeless independent living team

The Homelessness Independent Living Team (HILT) works with people who have difficulties with life skills, or repeat homelessness, or a disability that affects housing choices and needs. The team works to improve safety and independence in temporary property and to assist with re-housing to suitable permanent property.

The team consists of two occupational therapists, one team leader (who is also a senior practitioner occupational therapist), one occupational therapy assistant/clerical support officer, and two tenancy sustainment officers.

HILT has an open referral policy and will accept all referrals that meet its criteria. It works only with those who are homeless and under investigation or accepted by the Homeless and Housing Advice Service, and with applicants offered concessionary assistance through the Homeless and Housing Advice Service. It does not work with Management Transfer cases.

The tenancy sustainment officers assist people with acquiring life skills such as budgeting, sorting out debts and benefits entitlement, personal hygiene, managing a home, preparing for a permanent tenancy, linking to appropriate community resources, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, dealing with behaviour that can threaten a tenancy and working towards fuller social integration.

The occupational therapist may assist the tenancy sustainment officers where there are significant mental health or addiction problems and a structured rehabilitation approach using occupational therapy skills is needed.

The occupational therapists also do assessments of people’s abilities and disabilities in relation to their housing needs. They provide advice and support around specialist housing needs such as wheelchair access. They also do accompanied viewings where significant disability might affect housing need.

They provide advice, information, support and specialist equipment as needed for disabled people while in temporary accommodation. They also provide advice and support as needed to Housing and Social Services colleagues.

Contact us

Contact the homeless independent living team:

Albert Jacob House
62 Roman Road
Bethnal Green
London E2 0PG

Tel: 7364 7474
Fax: 020 7364 7570 / 020 7364 7466
E-mail: homeless@towerhamlets.gov.uk

Opening times

Monday to Friday 9:30am - 4pm
Telephone times: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm

Access

Wheelchair access - also there is a hearing loop in the reception area.

Transport

Tube: Bethnal Green
Buses: D6 & no. 8