Supported/Independent Housing

Supported Housing provides housing, care and support. It can enable people to live independently for longer as well as being an alternative housing option that falls somewhere between living independently in the community and nursing home/residential care.

Supported Housing is provided by local authorities, approved housing bodies and private sector providers. The Irish Council of Social Housing contains information on housing schemes provided by approved housing bodies. Local authorities can provide information on schemes provided in the local area.

Different models of Supported Housing are available with differing levels of care and support provided. There is no set definition of services offered at different levels, but work by The Housing Agency grouped the typical services available into three levels of Supported Housing:

• Independent Living – low level of services
• Assisted Living – medium level of services
• Specialised Living -high level of services, including subacute care

In 2025, Irelands first fully collaborative Housing with Support scheme for older people was completed, with the delivery of Richmond Place. The housing scheme was developed by Circle Voluntary Housing, to help older people age with dignity, independence while remaining connected to their community. The 52 apartment development, created in partnership  with ALONE, the HSE, The Department of Health and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Dublin City Council offers fully accessible 1.5-2 bedrooms homes designed to meet the needs of older adults. To read more about the development click on this link.

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The following table provides a summary of what is typically available at each of the three levels of Supported Housing (Housing Agency, 2018).

Table I: Typical features included in Supported Housing Models

Independent Living (low level of services)	Assisted Living (medium level of services)	Specialised Living (high level of services)
1/ 2-bedroom apartment/bungalow – own kitchen, living room, outdoor space	1/ 2-bedroom apartment/bungalow – own kitchen, living room, outdoor space	Bed-sitting room, bathroom, kitchenette and may include own outdoor space
Own front door	Own front door	Own front door
Universal Design principles/design	Universal Design principles/design	Universal Design principles/design
Communal room and office space	Communal room and office space	Extra communal and office space
May have a café	May have a café or residents’ restaurant	Shared sitting rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms
Secure personal alarms/ emergency response	Secure personal alarms/ emergency response	Secure personal alarms/ emergency response
Caretaker/ housing manager on site for some time each week	Caretaker/ housing manager on site for some time each week	Social and healthcare staff on site
	Often co-located with a HSE day care centre or primary care centre.	24/7 social and or/medical care available
May have a guest apartment in scheme for overnight visitors	May have a guest apartment in scheme for overnight visitors