Supported housing funding: what we still need to know

Overall, this represents a victory for common sense and for the power of the sector speaking boldly and with a single voice.

There can’t be many MPs across the country who haven’t been pulled aside for a quiet word by a supported housing provider over the past two years.

When it comes to sheltered and extra care housing, a looming disaster appears to have been averted. While there is much debate around the final detail, the government’s proposals in this area appear to have been widely welcomed and providers, initially at least, seem comfortable with the uplifts for supported housing in the draft formula.

“There can’t be many MPs across the country who haven’t been pulled aside for a quiet word by a supported housing provider over the past two years.”

However, there are some significant questions when it comes to the government’s plans for “short-term” supported housing, such as women’s refuges or hostels.

Katie Ghose, chief executive of Women’s Aid, suggested the reforms would “dismantle our national network or lifesaving refuges” and put the lives of women and children at risk.

There is still much to play for, with the relatively light consultation document leaving plenty of blanks to be filled in. Nevertheless, there are a number of key questions that need to be answered.

First, how can the government give a sector still scarred by the experiences of Supporting People assurance that another ringfenced fund will provide anything like long-term certainty?

Even if the ringfence remains, will the size of the pot increase in line with costs?

How will this level of uncertainty affect investment in new provision?

“How can the government give the sector assurance that another ringfenced fund will provide anything like long-term certainty.”

The new model gives already strained local authorities significant new responsibilities.

What is their current commissioning capacity and how will councils make sure they are resourced to make the correct decisions about future funding?

Then there are wider knock-on questions. The government has been enthusiastic about using a model called Housing First (which this magazine has backed) to tackle rough sleeping.

Housing First involves providing rough sleepers with a home and support – and one of its key features is a move away from conditionality (the idea that individuals have to hit certain targets or face losing housing or support).

While the proposals as they stand might not necessarily impact on the model, the suggestion that accommodation with support can be provided for a period of up to two years raises some interesting questions about how joined up the current thinking truly is.

The emphasis on local supported housing plans and strategies could potentially join the dots, however.

There has been a lot of progress in recent weeks.

But there is still the need for much more work between now and when the consultation closes in January.

Martin Hilditch, deputy editor, Inside Housing