The resettlement of older homeless people into independent housing Maureen Crane, Sarah Coward and Tony Warnes University of Sheffield Presentation to UK Coalition on Older Homelessness, October 2009

Aims of the presentation To present the outcomes of the resettlement of older homeless people from hostels into independent accommodation. The presentation will describe:  The characteristics of the study respondents  The resettlement accommodation and the move  How they managed during the first six months  Their settledness and housing outcomes

To produce longitudinal information about: (a) the experiences of homeless people who are resettled, and (b) the factors that influence the outcomes. To assess the relative contributions to settledness, tenancy sustainment and achieved independence of: * the resettled person’s characteristics * the resettlement preparation and follow-up support * the condition and amenities of the accommodation * events and experiences post-resettlement Funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council Aims of

Sample  400 single homeless people aged 16+ years in two clusters: London, and Nottinghamshire / Yorkshire.  Resettled into independent accommodation by six homelessness sector organisations. Broadly representative of those resettled by the organisations in  56 respondents were aged 50+ years.  Information collected includes: accommodation histories; education, training and employment; personal problems; income and expenditure; use of time; family and social networks; help and support before and after moving.

Partner organisations

Methods of collecting data  Semi-structured interviews conducted with respondents immediately before being resettled, and after 6 and 18 months. Interviews from June 2007 to November  Once resettled, most interviews were conducted in respondents’ homes; a few in cafes, pubs or other places. Respondents given £10 for baseline interview and £15 for subsequent interviews – an incentive to encourage them to keep in contact.  Key-worker completed questionnaire at baseline.  Tracking exercise at 12 months to find out whereabouts. Contact details collected for relatives, friends, and services used – very important element of keeping in touch.

38 were resettled by the London organisations; 18 by the Notts / Yorks organisations. At time of resettlement, 41 respondents were aged years, and 15 aged 60+ years; oldest was aged were men; only 5 women (and all were aged years). Most (82%) were White British / Irish. 43% were never married, 5% widowed and the rest separated / divorced. 24% aged and 13% aged 60+ had been homeless before (compared to 52% aged years). The older respondents

Common reasons for homelessness ReasonsAge 50-59Age 60+All ages Percentages Financial problems Redundancy, retirement, other work problems Housing tenure / landlord problems2920 Marital / partner breakdown Death spouse / partner2202 Death parents5202 Alcohol problems20 13 Mental health problems2209

Number of months homeless to time resettled (most recent episode)

Number of months in last hostel before being resettled

Mental health and substance misuse problems during five years before being resettled

Help with mental health problems before being resettled (only those with problems)

Help with alcohol problems before being resettled (only those with problems)

Previous experience of independent living  Only 33% of those aged 50+ had lived alone for more than 5 years. 40% aged 60+ had never lived alone.  Most said they had had a lot of experience of cooking and keeping a home clean.  Only 61% aged and 47% aged 60+ had had a lot of experience of paying utility bills.  27% aged 60+ had no experience of paying utility bills – they had always lived with their parents, or in lodgings with landladies or in tied accommodation.

Advice and training from hostel staff on managing a home Advice and trainingAge 50-59Age 60+All ages ReceivedPercentages … cooking / preparing meals … paying bills … budgeting / managing money Would have liked but did not get … cooking / preparing meals575 … paying bills10712 … budgeting / managing money7010

The resettlement accommodation and the move Social Housing, Lenton, Nottingham

The resettlement accommodation 13 of the 15 aged 60+ and 4 aged years moved to sheltered accommodation with a warden. Tenure17-24 years25-49 years50-59 years60+ years Percentages Local authority Housing association Private-rented Sample size

Respondents’ concerns about moving ConcernsAge 50-59Age 60+All ages Percentages Moving quickly / arranging the move / getting furniture Possible problems after moving … managing finances / paying bills26725 … isolation and loneliness … occupying time13 12 … coping at home17139

Readiness of the accommodation at time of moving Many older people moved into accommodation that lacked basic furniture and appliances  51% no bed  67% no cooker  65% no fridge  61% no armchair / sofa  49% lacked carpets / floor covering

Problems with the condition of the accommodation at six months  Those who moved to sheltered accommodation less likely to report problems with the condition of the accommodation; presumably maintenance and repairs are dealt with by the warden. Common problems50-59 years60+ yearsAll ages Percentages Any problem Problems with: … dampness / mould13012 … heating / boiler26731 … leaks / flooding3710

Furniture / furnishings still missing after six months (those aged 50+)  4% no bed  14% no cooker  4% no fridge  4% no armchair / sofa  24% lacked carpets / floor covering

Managing household tasks and finances  82% aged years had a cooked meal most days, and cooked their own food.  Only 64% aged 60+ cooked their own food. Others ate in cafes, pubs or went to homelessness day centres for food. 15% only had a cooked meal once or twice a week.  26% of older respondents reported problems managing household tasks - due to lack of cooking facilities or a washing machine, or poor motivation.  17% of older respondents reported ‘frequent’ problems with budgeting and managing money, and 26% ‘occasional’ problems.

Most older respondents claimed Housing Benefit towards their rent. 56% aged and 15% aged 60+ did not pay anything towards the rent. During the first 6 months, 40% had rent arrears. When interviewed at six months, 15% still had rent arrears. No difference between those aged in their fifties and those aged 60+. During the first 6 months, 11% had been threatened with eviction, mostly for rent arrears. Early arrears often due to HB problems; continued arrears to personal factors. Rent and rent arrears

Debts (%) DebtsAged 50-59Aged 60+ Baseline6 monthsBaseline6 months Had debts … less than £ … more than £1, Has debts: amount unknown 25021

…

Contact with family and friends  Strong age relationship in social contacts Contact17-24 yrs25-49 yrs50-59 yrs60+ yrs In contact with relatives % Number of relatives in contact at least monthly NO contact with family or friends %

Socialises with neighbours

Tenancy support during first six months SupportAged 50-59Aged 60+ Percentages Had support from tenancy support worker6833 Had warden / no tenancy support worker753 No tenancy support worker or warden207 Saw tenancy support worker at least weekly in first month 3920

…

Pleased with the accommodation (6 months)

Settled in the accommodation (6 months) Age groups (years)

Thought about giving up tenancy in first six months

Worried about how things are going (at 6 months)

Housing outcomes at 6 months Outcome50-59 years60+ yearsAll ages Percentages In original accommodation9387 Moved to new tenancy273 Evicted / abandoned275 Died201 Other004

Tenancies ending and reasons So far, the tenancies of 7 older respondents have ended through evictions, abandonments and moves (11 still have to be interviewed at 18 months).  1 man - mental health problems exacerbated – admitted to psychiatric hospital after a few weeks and then discharged to residential care.  3 men – alcohol problems. One tenancy ended after 2 weeks and the man returned to a hostel. Another allowed drug users to stay in his flat and he returned to a hostel. The third was evicted for anti-social behaviour and is now homeless.  2 men – evicted for rent arrears. Local Housing Allowance was paid directly to one man who then did not pay the landlord. He was evicted.  One man moved to be nearer relatives.

Title Content Reflections and conclusions

How independent after being rehoused?  Most older respondents still in their original accommodation after 18 months. More likely to be settled than the younger respondents.  Many resettled in tenancies that were inadequately prepared. By six months, most had basic furniture and household equipment. Those in their fifties more likely to be experiencing problems with repairs – no warden to chase this up.  Those in their fifties tended to be more independent than those aged 60+. Several aged 60+ relied on day centres, cafes or pubs for food.  Financial problems were a major concern. Many struggled financially and had rent arrears. The percentage with debts increased during the first six months.

How supported after being rehoused?  Sheltered accommodation proved suitable for several respondents in their 60s – they had no contact with family and friends, but settled in sheltered housing and socialised with other tenants.  Worrying number of evictions and tenancies ending among the older respondents due to alcohol or mental health problems, or poor household management skills. Mental health and alcohol more of a problem among those in their fifties.  Support for those aged was mainly from tenancy support workers, while for those aged 60+ it was from a warden. Tenancy support workers provide specialist ‘one-to-one’ help for various problems; wardens mainly deal with accommodation and rent issues.

Thanks to … All the respondents who have participated in this study over an extraordinarily long time. Ruby Fu, Camilla Mercer and Louise Joly who have helped massively with running the project and coding the data. The freelance interviewers – Gary Bellamy, Paul Gilsenan, Louise Joly and John Miles. Members of the Management Committee: David Fisher (Broadway), Caroline Day and Jennifer Monfort (Centrepoint), Peter Radage and Rachel Harding (Framework), Julie Robinson and Tony Beech (St Anne’s), Simon Hughes and George Miller (St Mungo’s), and John Crowther and Debra Ives (Thames Reach), and to all their colleagues who have been Link Workers or have otherwise assisted with recruitment and tracking.

Contact details Tony Warnes: Maureen Crane: Sarah Coward: