Department of Health Extra Care Housing Fund

DH funded Extra Care Housing schemes to date:

Click here to download a list of all the extra care housing schemes funded by the Department of Health

The Aims and Objectives of the Fund were:

• To develop new extra care housing places in England in areas where need has been demonstrated (as reflected in relevant strategies, particularly local Supporting People strategies and regional housing strategies) and which:

a) Provide independent housing with support and long term care
b) Contribute to the range of solutions to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions; and/or assist in reducing delayed transfers of care from hospitals
c) Promote wellbeing, choice, dignity and quality of life for older people and other people with disabilities and long terms conditions

• To develop effective local partnerships between the NHS, local housing authorities, Supporting People teams, Local Authorities with social services responsibilities, care providers, Housing Associations and private sector and other developers of extra care housing in the interests of older people

Independent evaluation of the DH Extra Care Housing Fund

The PSSRU and the Housing LIN have published 2 papers detailing the independent evaluation of the Department of Health's 2004-2010 Extra Care Housing Fund programme. Undertaken by the Personnel Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU) at the University of Kent, the extensive evaluation adds significantly to research showing that extra care housing and investment in housing for older people delivers benefits for both residents and the public purse.

• Improving housing with care choices for older people: an evaluation of extra care housing
  This provides a comprehensive summary of the evaluation of 19 of the schemes funded in Round One of the DH's extra care housing programme and provides key findings on delivering outcomes, cost and cost-effectiveness, and on the quality of residents lives over a 30 month period.
• Evaluation of the extra care housing initiative: PSSRU technical report
  This paper provides substantial technical analysis of the evidence base relating to the process and impact of the DH's Extra Care Housing Fund and the resultant implications for new approaches to providing accommodation and care for older people.

Summary of DH ECH fund allocated to date:

• 2004-2005: £29million + £17.7million pre-allocated
• 2005-2006: £40.3million
• 2006-2007: £20million
• 2007-2008: £40million
• 2008-2010: £80million
• 2010-2011: £20,000 for every council with adult social care responsibility (CASCR)
• 2011 onwards: For the period 2011-2013, the DH has allocated a further £251 million (over 2 years) for capital projects across every CASCR., including Extra Care Housing. Note that unlike previous years, this money is no longer ring-fenced.

The above ring-fenced funding of Extra Care Housing by the Department of Health ceased in 2010/11. Further details of non ring-fenced DH funding via Councils with Adult Social Care Responsibilities and annual allocations by authority is set out in a DH Circular

Other information on funding sources can be viewed on the Funding Extra Care pages on this website and accompanying Resource Pack .