Furnishing Homes, Furnishing Lives: Sharing Homes for Under 35s

Verity Timmins Campaigns Manager verityt@frcgroup.co.uk @endfurniturepov 0151 702 0575

FRC Group – Who we are Established as Furniture Resource Centre, a grassroots charity, in 1988 Now a leading group of social businesses Creating social value and running commercial businesses All profits invested to create social value and reinvested in the business

FRC Group Mission Our mission is to reduce and ultimately eradicate furniture poverty Raising awareness of furniture poverty Creating practical solutions to get furniture to people who need it And creating sustainable employment and better futures for people.

Lilly Income £7,067,814 Profit £583,939 Grants £99,786 Grants as % of income 1.4% Over 100 staff Produced the UK’s first Integrated Financial and Social Value Report Won numerous national accolades for social value measurement

Targeting Specific Problems Quick response Targeting Specific Problems Well Managed Lasting Impact Reducing Future Voids

Pro Bono support: Feasibility study for potential Furnished Tenancy pilot project Policies and processes Establishing data capture to demonstrate effect on: Void rates Rental income Average tenancy length Void turnaround time Income generated Increased financial sustainability for tenants

@EndFurniturePov LinkedIn/EndFurniturePoverty.Org

Furniture Poverty and Under 35s

Furniture Poverty and Under 35s In or at risk of Furniture Poverty Welfare Reform: Eligible for Shared Accommodation Rate Local Housing Allowance levels in area Removal of Community Care Grants and localisation of Local Welfare Provision services Access to affordable credit for furniture and appliances Basic minimum requirements to make a lasting tenancy: Sleep, eat, live

Tenant Benefits Two can live more cheaply than one – includes furnishings Comparable with sharing options in PRS / Student market Respond to short term nature of sharing groups Create immediate pride and respect for shared home

Tenant Benefits Provider Benefits Two can live more cheaply than one – includes furnishings Furnishing removes early stage barrier to successful sharing groups Comparable with sharing options in PRS / Student market Make use of excess 2 or 3 bedroom properties Training for sharers and matching sharers well can mitigate risks Respond to short term nature of sharing groups Create immediate pride and respect for shared home Comparison group for void rate and average tenancy length?

Role of Furniture in Successful Sharing Create a positive start in a home environment Remove potential source of tenancy / share breakdown Remove need to create dependent financial relationships between sharers

Role of Furniture in Successful Sharing “Spend to Save” approach for social landlords Furnish communal areas and basic bedroom furniture – quality and durability Recover costs via service charge – set at affordable level compared with high cost alternatives Scope what is needed (furniture, appliances, bedding, utensils, carpets, vinyl, window coverings)

Support and partnership Sharing knowledge of good practice in Furnished Tenancies (and furnished provision across social housing) Developing pilots Measuring outcomes to demonstrate impacts – commercial and social Social Return On Investment analysis Link to furniture supply

Any Questions?

Verity Timmins Campaigns Manager verityt@frcgroup.co.uk @endfurniturepov 0151 702 0575