‘Should I Stay or Should I Go?’ Housing Options Pilot Presentation by Care & Repair England

‘Should I Stay or Should I Go?’ National initiative to develop, monitor and evaluate locally run housing options advice services National initiative to develop, monitor and evaluate locally run housing options advice services Produced detailed information to help others set up and manage services – a ‘Toolkit’ – based on the experience of the local pilot projects (free from website) Produced detailed information to help others set up and manage services – a ‘Toolkit’ – based on the experience of the local pilot projects (free from website) Ran training courses across England for front line staff on housing options for older people Ran training courses across England for front line staff on housing options for older people

What does a Housing Options Service do? Provides impartial and independent:  Information about housing options,  Advice,  Support, advocacy and  Practical help with moving home for older people living in poor/ or unsuitable housing and/ or considering options for “moving on”

The Views of Older People ‘In old age, people see housing as possibly the most essential factor in whether they will be able to manage and live well’ ‘People’s attachment to their home, their identity and their sense of self worth are [closely connected]’ ‘Homing in on Housing’, Clough, Leamy, Bright 2003

National Project Measure/ demonstrate value Measure/ demonstrate value Test out model applicability: Test out model applicability: To black and minority ethnic elders To black and minority ethnic elders To rural areas To rural areas To regeneration areas To regeneration areas Delivery through local partnerships Delivery through local partnerships Mix of funders Mix of providers – home improvement agencies, Age Concern, local authority Create resources Create resources

Local results Impartiality of the advice and information highly valued Impartiality of the advice and information highly valued Intensive, practical support crucial for many who moved home Intensive, practical support crucial for many who moved home People over 80yrs and those with health problems main users of service People over 80yrs and those with health problems main users of service Help for some was literally life transforming Help for some was literally life transforming

Impetus for moving home Health problem Health problem Access/ mobility problem Access/ mobility problem Home maintenance Home maintenance Financial worry Financial worry Feeling lonely, isolated, unsafe Feeling lonely, isolated, unsafe Home too large to look after Home too large to look after Bereavement Bereavement

Local outcomes Range of service users moving amongst eight pilot projects: 15%-26% Range of service users moving amongst eight pilot projects: 15%-26% Most common moves: From owner occupation to social rented housing: From house to sheltered housing Most common moves: From owner occupation to social rented housing: From house to sheltered housing 20% preferred existing home to alternatives 20% preferred existing home to alternatives 28% did not move because no suitable option available 28% did not move because no suitable option available

Experience of BME elders Less likely to have considered moving Less likely to have considered moving More likely to stay put after help More likely to stay put after help More likely to prefer existing home to alternatives on offer More likely to prefer existing home to alternatives on offer More likely to be referred for adaptations to enable ‘stay put’ option More likely to be referred for adaptations to enable ‘stay put’ option

Wider impact Housing choice is far from a reality for many older people. Housing choice is far from a reality for many older people. Housing options services can influence general local housing provision for older people through the evidence base that emerges from one to one advice work eg. new build standards, lettings policy and practice, planning support services Housing options services can influence general local housing provision for older people through the evidence base that emerges from one to one advice work eg. new build standards, lettings policy and practice, planning support services

Recommendations More local housing options advice – contribute to agenda of informed housing choice More local housing options advice – contribute to agenda of informed housing choice Should take on wider policy influencing remit Should take on wider policy influencing remit Integrate with existing services Integrate with existing services

Should I Stay or Should I Go? A range of practical resources is freely available from Care & Repair England to help those with an interest in older people’s housing options and choices. then select ‘Housing Options’ england.org.uk england.org.uk