Thousands in Essex supported to stay well in their homes
Thousands of people across Essex will continue receiving practical support from us, after Essex County Council awarded us a new contract to deliver the county’s floating support service for up to seven more years.
Published: 29/06/2026
We have delivered the service on behalf of the council since 2019. It focuses on preventing homelessness, reducing social isolation and helping people live independently in their communities. It has been a vital lifeline for many households facing financial pressures.
Last year alone, the service helped 23,000 people across Essex, including 4,000 who received longer-term support from dedicated caseworkers.
Since 2019, we have also:
- Helped more than 6,000 residents across different housing tenures sustain stable housing and maintain their tenancies.
- Secured more than £4 million in financial support to help residents with essential costs, including backdated housing payments, grants and other essential support.
- Helped more than 59,500 people with short interventions to financial matters, one-off advice, health and wellbeing, housing and tenancy, and welfare.
A team of around 100 people have been supporting residents across Essex since we were appointed in 2019.
We provide support through home visits and offer information and drop-in advice at locations throughout the county, with long and short-term help available.
This includes support with finances, housing, wellbeing, and other practical ways to help people remain secure and independent.
One resident who received support said: “I truly do feel like words can't justify how much of a difference the service has made to my life and how grateful I am because by helping and supporting me, it has helped my whole family, allowing me to be more present for my children. We all have hope for the future, and that is something I have not felt for many years, so the impact is indescribable.”
Looking ahead
As part of the new contract, which was awarded in January and went live on 1 April 2026, the service will expand and adapt to meet growing demand. We plan to introduce a new ‘community connector’ role to strengthen links with local partners and create employment opportunities across the county. There are also plans to improve digital access to support, including updates to the support sections across our websites.
For more information
Find out more about our support services or for a referral form.
