Review of supported housing ‘urgently needed’
0A “wholesale review” of the system that funds and regulates supported housing is urgently needed according to an independent evaluation of a local government pilot scheme funded by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).
The pilot – involving Birmingham, Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Bristol and Hull councils – was backed by DLUHC funding of £5.4m. It looked at ways to improve quality and value for money of schemes where housing, support and sometimes care services are provided to help people live as independently as possible in the community.
Pilot areas tested the enforcement of property standards, reviews of support to residents, enhanced scrutiny of housing benefit claims and strategic planning. These core activities were supplemented with local initiatives, such as developing and launching quality standards for supported housing, working with young people and domestic abuse victims and addressing anti-social behaviour.
An evaluation commissioned by the DLUHC from Kantar Public and Imogen Blood & Associates found that the pilot had produced improvements to the quality of residential support and standards, reductions in the number of illegitimate housing benefit claims and led to a better understanding of demand for and supply of supported housing.
“The pilots have highlighted the progress that local authorities are able to make with increased resourcing and capacity, but also how the current regulatory system and legislation prohibit effective oversight of supported housing,” the evaluation stated.
“Pilot authorities’ experience suggests that the whole system for funding and regulating supported housing urgently needs wholesale review.”
It suggested that such a review was the only way that the provision of supported housing could meet residents’ needs safely and effectively, and ensure that local supply aligns with the strategies of councils and their statutory partners.
The evaluation put forward a number of recommendations, including: making short- or medium-term funding available to local authorities to oversee supported housing in their areas while regulatory and legislative measures are agreed and implemented; and strengthening local authority powers to support them to intervene in new housing supply where it is of poor quality.
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