Supported Housing consultation January 2017 – SHiP conference www.sitra.org www.homeless.org.uk

Task and Finish Groups What are they looking at? The Government is establishing a set of task and finish groups to support the development of the new model, focusing on four key areas: Fair access to funding (Homeless Link attends) Local roles and responsibilities, including ensuring value for money, quality and appropriate oversight (NHF attends) Ensuring new supply of supported housing (NHF attends) Short term accommodation (NHF and Homeless Link attends) “(they will) Include membership from key stakeholders and partners from across the sector and from across Government departments and the devolved administrations where appropriate” www.sitra.org www.homeless.org.uk www.homeless.org.uk Let’s end homelessness together

Emerging themes from members Short-term accommodation The task and finish group on short-term accommodation has drafted a working definition for short-term accommodation that focuses more on the purpose and function: Transitional accommodation and support to meet people’s needs and achieve outcomes that enable appropriate and timely move on There are suggestions this could cover services anything up to two years Concerns among our members about timeframe for ‘short-term’: what that means for services sitting within or outside of the benefits system and the risks and opportunities of that. www.sitra.org www.homeless.org.uk www.homeless.org.uk Let’s end homelessness together

Emerging themes from members Short-term accommodation If short-term accommodation system = local system, does that offer more or less security than benefits system Can schemes be designated as short-term, and therefore require a different system, or should this just be about covering an initial period in services because of Universal Credit delays – what happens if someone leaves a ‘long-term’ service within a month? Importance of benefit entitlement for an individual – paying rent, managing tenancy, work incentives etc. Need for a national framework for commissioning services to ensure some level of local consistency www.sitra.org www.homeless.org.uk www.homeless.org.uk Let’s end homelessness together

Emerging themes from members Fair access to local funding Concerns about both overall sizing of pot and allocations for local areas – need clarity over methodology and how pot will reflect need (including plans for growth) Also concerns about robustness and longevity of ring-fence, particularly in light of previous ring-fenced pots, such as Supporting People Statutory duties: should these be introduced to protect specific groups or could there be statutory duties at a population level i.e. to plan or develop a strategy? Could this be linked to receipt of the pot? What in existing or imminent legislation, such as the Care Act or Homelessness Reduction Bill, might strengthen people’s access to support? What more needs to be done? www.sitra.org www.homeless.org.uk www.homeless.org.uk Let’s end homelessness together

Principles for a new model Provide sustainable funding for supported housing Support new developments and innovation, and foster good practice Ensure that supported housing and related services are diverse and reflect multiple and complex needs  Enable supported housing to join up effectively with other key care and support bodies through integrated, positively commissioned services Solutions are developed and introduced in partnership with supported housing providers www.sitra.org www.homeless.org.uk www.homeless.org.uk Let’s end homelessness together

Getting Involved Your Evidence is Crucial Work and Pensions Select Committee call for evidence: closes 3rd February Official consultation closes 13th February You can input into Homeless Link’s submission – please email any key points to: paula.reid@homelesslink.org.uk We are also looking for case studies that demonstrate the value of supported housing – if you are interested, please email the address above by 31st January www.sitra.org www.homeless.org.uk www.homeless.org.uk Let’s end homelessness together