NHF calls for ‘urgent review’ of supported housing funding

Supported housing is accommodation where residents receive support, care or supervision to help them live independently. It caters for is older people, people with physical or learning disabilities, and people fleeing domestic abuse. 

Housing associations, councils, charities and private landlords all operate supported housing. 

The NHF said there should be “improved, more flexible grant funding to deliver supported housing, within a stable long-term rent settlement that must also cover the actual costs of delivering supported housing”. 

Ringfenced funding for supported housing ended in 2011. This has led to a reduction in spending and a decline in sector standards due to a rise in unregulated providers, according to the Local Government Association. 

“Without supported housing, 41,000 more people would be homeless, public services like the NHS would be under even more pressure and many more people would be living in homes that don’t meet their needs,” the NHF said.

Mr Smyth added: “Ahead of the Spending Review, we’re calling on the government to protect this vital provision by reinstating £1.6bn of ringfenced funding for support services, alongside funding to integrate health, social care and housing. This should from part of a long-term strategy to end the housing crisis.”

The cost of providing supported of housing is more than general needs social housing due to the extra staff required and home adaptations. The government provides grant funding for new supported housing through the Affordable Homes Programme. 

Last month, a new government-commissioned report concluded that an extra 641,000 supported homes could be needed over the next 15 years to tackle demand across England, Scotland and Wales. 

Supported housing has moved up the political agenda in the past few years amid heightened scrutiny of housing standards and providers’ finances.

Last year, parliament’s Public Accounts Committee concluded that the sector needed “root and branch” reform.

The government is due to unveil a 10-year plan housing strategy at the Spring Spending Review. 

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has been contacted for comment.