Housing and support solutions for people at risk of homelessness

The government’s guidance (opens new window) for local authorities on improving the supply and quality of supported housing sets out a range in interventions to better understand local need to plan strategically and build more effective partnerships to deliver improved supported housing choices. Our expert understanding of the supported housing market and insight into the latest in innovative practice can assist you as follows:

Market intelligence to forecast demand for supported housing and help produce local plans
Review of existing housing and supported accommodation services and operational effectiveness
Appraisal of housing/accommodation assets and approaches to housing procurement for people at risk of homelessness
Development of homelessness strategies
Improving and developing housing and accommodation pathways for people experiencing/at risk of homelessness
Research and support for operators, commissioners and policy makers

Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act

How the Housing LIN can support preparation for SHROA

The Government has now issued guidance to local authorities in England setting out their new duties under SHROA. These include the requirement to:

undertake an assessment of the need for supported housing in their area, and
work with partners to develop and publish a five-year supported housing plan or strategy, setting out how identified needs will be met.

The expectation is that this work will be completed by 31 March 2027.

The Housing LIN’s Research and Advisory team provides a range of services to help local authorities and their partners prepare for the implementation of the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act (SHROA). This includes working collaboratively with councils and stakeholders to:

use modelling tools and market data to assess current and future demand for supported housing
undertake qualitative research to capture the needs, preferences and aspirations of people living in supported accommodation and/or receiving housing-related support
review the quality of supported housing and related services, benchmarking against what good looks like and supporting readiness for new regulatory and oversight requirements
develop supported housing strategies and plans to inform local plans, market position statements, housing and homelessness strategies, and future supply of supported housing and accommodation-based services

Building on existing local authority practice

From our work with local authorities across England, we know that many councils have already begun this work; both in anticipation of the new statutory duties under SHROA and because having a robust local evidence base supports better commissioning, partnership working and market development.

To support councils and their partners, we have collated below a selection of published supported housing needs assessments, strategies and market position statements produced by local authorities that the Housing LIN has supported. These examples demonstrate different approaches to assessing need and developing supported housing strategies, and may be helpful to other areas as they plan their own SHROA-related activity.

Oxfordshire – Oxfordshire Supported Housing Needs Assessment (opens new window)
Housing LIN supported Oxfordshire partners to produce a supported housing needs assessment, identifying current provision, gaps and future demand.
Gateshead – Supported Housing Needs Assessment & Strategy (opens new window)
Housing LIN supported Gateshead Council with a combined supported housing needs assessment and strategy, informing commissioning and service planning.
Essex – Essex Supported & Specialist Housing Needs Assessment (opens new window)
Housing LIN supported the development of a county-wide supported and specialist housing needs assessment, providing evidence on current and future accommodation needs.
Cornwall – Supported and Specialist Housing Strategy and Needs Assessment (opens new window)
Housing LIN supported Cornwall Council with the development of its supported and specialist housing strategy and needs assessment, providing evidence and strategic input on current and future accommodation needs.
Cumberland – Cumberland Supported Housing Strategy (opens new window)
Housing LIN contributed to the development of Cumberland’s supported housing strategy, helping to shape the assessment of need and strategic approach.
Telford & Wrekin – Specialist & Supported Accommodation Strategy (opens new window)
Housing LIN supported Telford & Wrekin Council with the development of its specialist and supported accommodation strategy, drawing on needs assessment evidence.
Havering (LB) – Supported Housing Strategy (opens new window)
Housing LIN supported Havering Council with the evidence base and analysis underpinning its supported housing strategy.
Rochdale – Specialist Housing and Supported Living Needs Assessment (opens new window)
Housing LIN supported Rochdale Council to develop a specialist housing and supported living needs assessment to inform future provision and commissioning.
Stockton-on-Tees – Supported Housing Market Position Statement (opens new window)
Housing LIN supported the development of evidence to inform Stockton-on-Tees’ supported housing market position statement.
North Tyneside – Supported and Specialist Housing Market Position Statement (opens new window)
Housing LIN supported North Tyneside Council with the production of its supported and specialist housing market position statement as part of its housing evidence base.

Find out more

For more information on supported housing, visit our dedicated supported housing pages.