A day to recognise the importance of supported housing

Today, three-quarters of all supported and sheltered housing is provided by housing associations, with schemes ranging from extra-care housing to homelessness hostels, homes for people with learning or physical disabilities and autistic people, mental health step-down units, and domestic abuse refuges.

“I have heard of so many creative and innovative approaches developed by members to keep residents safe and combat isolation, while continuing to provide essential support”

This past year and a half has proved, more than ever, the value of these care and support services, as we’ve seen providers overcome extraordinary challenges to support residents during the pandemic, keeping services running and infection rates down.

I have heard of so many creative and innovative approaches developed by members to keep residents safe and combat isolation, while continuing to provide essential support. From providing residents with mobile phones so they could be easily contacted and speak with friends and family, to running online support groups, supporting residents to do shopping, delivering food parcels, planning outdoor activities and exercise, and much more.

This additional support for residents is only one side of the story, as housing associations demonstrated their vital role as community anchors at a time of crisis. They supported local authorities to house homeless people, bringing people in off the streets and making homes and support available.

Housing associations worked with the NHS to allow people to be safely discharged from hospital into appropriate accommodation. They also partnered with local organisations to increase support for domestic abuse survivors, as rates of abuse sadly increased.

“We continue to call on the government to reinstate funding to previous levels, committing £1.6bn of ringfenced local authority funding for housing-related support”

However, as staff worked tirelessly to provide these additional services, the pandemic further revealed the urgent need to address underfunding, with huge increases in demand for short-term accommodation and services for domestic abuse survivors, people sleeping rough and those experiencing acute mental health crises.

During this time, the interdependencies between social care, public health and housing were further highlighted and the need for continued partnership working between the three to improve health and well-being and prevent homelessness and hospital admissions for so many vulnerable individuals.

While there is a huge amount to celebrate on this Starts at Home day, there is also an important message to send to government about the change that is needed.

We continue to call on the government to reinstate funding to previous levels, committing £1.6bn of ringfenced local authority funding for housing-related support. This will not only ensure existing schemes are adequately funded, but also give much-needed certainty for new schemes to be built.

Alongside this, there must be greater recognition of the importance of housing for people’s health and well-being and better integration between housing, health and social care when considering future funding.

Supported housing is an enormous credit to our sector and our communities. It helps people keep their independence, regain their self-confidence and feel secure.

However, the future of these services relies on proper recognition and proper funding, without which we cannot provide housing and support to all those in need.

Kate Henderson, chief executive, National Housing Federation