Supported Housing Advisory Panel’s initial advice to ministers
The Supported Housing Advisory Panel’s initial advice to ministers has finally been published. The advice looks at how assessments of local need for supported housing can be improved, give commissioners a stronger role in shaping provision, and make sure local supported housing strategies actually lead to more housing being delivered.
The advice also looks at some of the longstanding barriers to supply, including Housing Benefit subsidy arrangements, the restrictions associated with the no-public-subsidy rule, and the need for new supported housing typologies that better reflect the different types of provision.
The report sets out a number of findings and 31 recommendations to government and local authorities clusters around the following:
- the development of a national framework data and information
- enhancing the Residents’ Voice
- licensing and quality (see separate consultation (opens new window))
- standards for support must be sufficient, clearly defined and measurable
- increased administrative burden for providers
- produce guidance and tools on Local Supported Housing Strategies
- reform Housing Benefit subsidy arrangements to increase supported housing supply
- develop a National Supported Housing Commissioning Framework based on whole-system principles
- align capital investment and sustainable revenue funding with identified need, including for Homes England to set a minimum supported housing allocation and specific delivery targets or provide a ring-fenced funding stream.
For more on the work of the Advisory Panel, check out their published terms of reference (opens new window).
See also Advisory Panel Chair’s Housing LIN Viewpoint, published to coincide with Supported Housing Week.
And for more on supported housing and the legislation driving sector improvements, visit the Housing IN’s dedicated webpages on supported housing.