The government has announced the National Statement of Expectations for supported housing, setting out its vision for ways of working in the sector and guidance for standards in accommodation, all part of its plans to improve oversight, ensure quality and value for money.
Supported housing is essential in providing help and support to some of the nation’s most vulnerable people, having a huge impact on quality of life, ranging from physical and mental health to engagement with local communities.
The government does acknowledge that the majority of housing providers are already delivering high-quality accommodation, going beyond the minimum standards required, including housing delivery during the pandemic. But it’s vital that all providers know what is expected of them and that people have housing that meets their needs, allowing them to thrive.
Parliamentary under-secretary of state for rough sleeping and housing Kelly Tolhurst said: “We have drawn on expertise and examples of excellent practice from across the sector to develop our recommendations for planning, commissioning and delivering supported housing.
“There can be no one size fits all approach, but best practice from across the country, highlighted in our case studies, shows the innovative ways that local authorities and providers deliver the best for residents.”
Support housing involves providing accommodation alongside supervision, care and support to help people live as independently as they can, including older people, those with learning or physical disabilities, autistic people, those at risk of homelessness, people recovering from drug or alcohol dependence, people fleeing domestic abuse, young people with support needs and those with experience of the criminal justice system.
The goal is to ensure that all those who need it are able to access safe and good quality supported housing at the right time, providing residents with safe and appropriate accommodation that meets their needs.
The government also wants supported housing to provide value for money, not just for residents but for commissioners and the taxpayer, as well, while recognising that associated costs may be higher than in general needs housing because of specialist requirements.
A consultation on accessible homes was also recently launched for older and disabled people in a bid to address the issue of housing being built without accessibility in mind.
Robert Jenrick, secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, explained that as people are now living longer, the proportion of older people in the UK is on the rise. Just two years ago, there were 1.6 million people over the age of 85 – and this is predicted to nearly double to three million come the year 2043.
As such, it is important to raise the accessibility standards of new builds, he went on to say, which will create a society where people are able to live safely and more independently, enjoying greater control over their lives.
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1 November,2020
