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The Supported Housing Act needs to back good providers

In February, the Government announced detailed proposals to take forward the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act, including new national standards, a licensing regime, and changes to Housing Benefit.

The Act went through Parliament in 2023 in response to the emergence of rogue, poor-quality landlords in the sector, charging high rents but providing little meaningful support for residents.

The Act’s aim is to ensure consistent, high-quality standards across the country, whether the supported housing is for those who have experienced homelessness, older people, people with learning disabilities, or other groups in need.

While the introduction of national standards and a push towards higher quality is much-needed, the Act needs to get the balance right in driving out rogue providers, while ensuring good-quality providers do not face negative consequences.

There are several areas where we think the government needs to think again.

An important drive towards national standards

The overall ambition of the Act – to ensure only providers who meet new standards are given a licence to operate – is the right one.

In its initial proposals, the government has set out principles to guide the supported housing sector, plus seven different standards that providers will be measured against. These include standards focused on person-centred support, empowering residents, protecting the environment, staff and safeguarding, and meeting local need.

As part of Emmaus UK’s response to a government consultation on these measures, we surveyed 161 residents and staff at our own supported housing charities and heard strong support for the standards, averaging at 93% agreement for the seven standards. In a series of workshops, residents told us the standards largely reflect what they believe is good-quality supported housing.

It was also clear, however, that some standards need to be strengthened, including the need to give residents a wider range of ways to shape their support, and to enable strong relationships to be built with multiple support staff.

We also recommend the government ensures alignment with other standards many providers already follow, for instance, via the Regulator of Social Housing. The standards should also include a greater focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring supported housing meets the needs of specific groups, such as the LGBTQ+ community and women.

Backing good providers

Emmaus UK has concerns with the possible impact of new measures on good-quality providers, in many cases smaller organisations. Large amounts of money, time, and resources will be required for providers to apply for licenses, and evidence that they are meeting the new standards.

The result could be greater pressures being placed on the supported housing sector. We are already in a place where, last year, a third of supported housing providers had to close schemes because of funding pressures, and 60% say they will be forced to close schemes in the future.

There are several specific steps which we think the Government can take to reduce pressures. Firstly, providers need additional funding to go alongside the new burdens, funding we anticipate local authorities will receive. There should be detailed and ongoing guidance, support and training, including maximum transparency on requirements and having an adequate lead-in time to meet the standards. Local authorities should also provide training in their areas.

Secondly, the government should reconsider the definition of a ‘scheme’. Under current proposals, each separate postal address would require a separate licence. This could leave providers with lots of dispersed supported housing of only a few units each in an impossible position. They would need many different licences, driving up costs and disincentivising this type of supported housing at a time when more is desperately needed.

Thirdly, the government needs to ensure greater consistency in how the Act is rolled out across the country. We do not think it will be necessary for local authorities to apply discretionary conditions, which could create unpredictability for providers operating in different areas. We also believe that there should be a standardised licence fee rate rather than authorities choosing different amounts, or at the very least a cap.

Homeless Link have proposed a new national body to oversee licensing and ensure geographical consistency, something which we would support.

Creating a thriving supported housing sector

Making these practical improvements will help to get the balance right in bringing in strong new standards, while helping good providers to operate well.

We know the Act is not the only piece in the jigsaw to help the supported housing sector thrive. That is why we are backing the National Housing Federation’s ‘Save Our Supported Housing’ campaign, calling for the government’s housing-related support to increase to at least £1.6bn per year and for the homelessness and housing strategies to recognise the vital role of our sector.

Indeed, the withdrawal of funding for supported housing has contributed to the rise in the rogue, bad-quality providers seeking profit that the Supported Housing Act seeks to eliminate.

Getting the Supported Housing Act right is crucial for creating the high-quality supported housing sector that residents deserve. While there is strong support from residents and staff for new standards, we strongly urge the government to consider the impact on good-quality, often small, providers.

Let’s get this crucial piece of legislation right.

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Councils can save cash through specialist and age-friendly housing

The Newcastle Labour Party manifesto (April 2019) set out an ambition for ‘More and Better Homes’. Within the manifesto there is an express belief that everyone should have the right to a decent home.

Data shows Newcastle’s population is projected to reach 311,300 by 2030 an increase of 12,400 on 2019 figures. The most significant feature in the population projections is the growth of people aged 65+ (21.5% by 2030). This increase will have implications for support services, extra housing, adaptions and other care related requirements.

Newcastle City Council has a strong commitment to ensure all residents have access to affordable housing, especially those who experience a long-term disability or who are vulnerable. Maintaining independence within a community setting has a lasting impact on mental and physical wellbeing.

For many people a move to institutional care can mean the removal of access to personal income, lead to deskilling and increase dependence. It is also more expensive in social care terms compared to providing the option of specialist accommodation.

Aligning housing needs and support services can create efficiencies and savings

Whilst population projections show an increase in the prevalence of people requiring specialist and/or supported housing, there is also a predicted rise in people living with a learning disability and/or autism. Similarly, a range of specialist accommodation is needed to replace outmoded provision, create efficiencies and savings via a better alignment of housing needs and support services.

A significant proportion of people with care needs, especially older people, enter residential care through crisis. Newcastle City Council is challenging the current care and support providers with a firm belief that suitable housing and housing services should be available to allow individual residents with care and support needs, either cognitive or physical, have a choice to maintain their independence and community links for as long as possible.

In helping to prevent, or at least delay, admissions to residential care, around 180 Assisted Living apartments, built over the past five years are estimated to have saved the Council around £300,000 p.a.

In addition, 235 new or remodelled sheltered apartments have been completed and a further 276 level access homes for older people. Over the next two years, a further 100 Assisted Living apartments are expected to be built (delivering revenue savings of circa £150,000) alongside 72 sheltered apartments and approximately 200 other level access homes.

Independent living is more than just a tenure type

Building new accommodation is only part of the solution to providing a first-class housing offer. This is why in 2019 we commissioned the Housing Learning Improvement Network (LIN) to carry out an independent review of the older person’s service offered by our Arms-Length Management Organisation (ALMO), Your Homes Newcastle (YHN). As a result the Housing Plus vision was developed with the following aims:

  • Making living easier, so customers can focus on living their lives to the full. 
  • Working with partners to provide services that reduce social isolation, meet the needs of diverse groups and sustain tenancies
  • Giving customers choice, independence and control; recognising there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to living a happy and healthy later life

Titled ‘More than just a roof’, this recognises independent living is more than just a tenancy, it is also important to tailor how people access the service, and the services that are offered, so that as needs change – the service offer changes.  YHN are working closely with partners to develop a more streamlined offer for customers, with a planned launch in 2020-21.

Newcastle is also committed to delivering a wide range of quality supported housing options for adults with a Learning Disability and Autism as part of a ‘continuum of support’.

Two models provide a real alternative to residential care and shared living. These are Community Cluster bungalows and Concierge Plus apartments.

  • Community Clusters provide bespoke care and support packages for up to six people within a ‘courtyard’ development,
  • Concierge Plus offers a mixture of housing, welfare and care support for individuals with less complex needs. 

These products enable people to live more independently in their communities, close to family, friends and established support and social networks. 

Over the last 5 years around 86 bungalows and apartments have been built for people with learning disabilities and/or autism, delivering estimated revenue savings of around £1.7m.  Over the next couple of years, a further 46 homes are to be completed, with further revenue savings of around £1.0m.

Looking and learning in the North East

Newcastle’s approach to people centred housing delivery for those with a specialist and supported housing need was picked up by the Housing LIN in the series of good practice examples. Particular praise was given for the older people’s housing scheme, ‘Tree Top Village’ in Walker, Newcastle.

Exclusively for people aged 55 plus, Tree Top Village consists of an impressive main building, offering 75 sheltered housing apartments, bordered by 36 one and two-bedroom homes and 8 bungalows with gardens, encompassing a restaurant and small retail, whilst providing a warm relaxed and friendly environment. 

Designed to become the centre piece of the wider Walker Regeneration Programme, the whole development went a through a thorough development process, which had at all stages, been influenced by the immediate community and potential residents.

In 2019 recognition of the work we do, and our partnering approach, Newcastle City Council was awarded for the second year running ‘Local Authority of the Year’ at the Northern Housing Awards.

This was in recognition of our partnership working and innovative approaches to housing delivery for all tenures and needs groups. Newcastle was shortlisted for the same award in 2020, but sadly all awards ceremonies were cancelled due the pandemic.

<strong><span class="has-inline-color has-accent-color">Councillor Linda Hobson</span></strong>
Councillor Linda Hobson

Councillor Linda Hobson was first elected to Newcastle City Council in 2011. She is the Labour Councillor for Blakelaw Ward where she grew up. 

A critical care nurse by profession, Linda is an elected trade union official, holding a number of roles within UNISON, including deputy Regional Conveyor.
Linda was previously the Cabinet Member for Adult Services and is now Cabinet Member for Housing.