The main purpose of the Housing Services department in local authorities is to facilitate the provision of suitable, cost effective, quality accommodation and housing support for people in need of housing.

Housing support can be provided in a number of ways:

• Social rented tenancies in local authority owned properties
• Sourcing social housing properties from the private sector through schemes such as the Rental Accommodation Scheme and the Leasing Initiative.
• Accommodation provided by Voluntary and Co-operative Housing
• Provision of Traveller accommodation
• Provision of accommodation for homeless people
• Facilitating extensions to existing local authority homes to meet specific household needs
• Provision of certain grants to increase accessibility in the home for people with disabilities and special needs.
• Provision of accommodation for older people

You can contact your local authority directly for more information on housing supports available in your area.