Housing related support can be funded through the Supporting People (SP) programme or through initiatives such as spend to save, as part of an authority's plan to prevent homelessness.
The SP programme is a valuable resource for people in the private rented sector, though most schemes are currently focused on the social sector. Developing floating support schemes for people renting in the private rented sector will help vulnerable people sustain their accommodation and can help prevent repeat homelessness. Landlords should be made aware of the type and level of support available to tenants. In some cases agencies have been highly successful in securing direct lets for people with high support needs, with support going in for both landlord and tenant.
Shared housing can be an effective option for people using resettlement and move on services, especially young people. Rents are often lower than single occupancy accommodation and living with others can help overcome the isolation many people feel when leaving hostels or the family home. Appropriate support is crucial to the success of shared accommodation, alongside robust housing management.
Non SP funded support for private sector tenants can cover a variety of issues, from paying off rent arrears arising from delays on HB renewals to tackling anti-social behaviour and repairing damage to property because of domestic violence. Local authorities must ensure that tenants have swift access to support that is appropriate to their needs in order to prevent loss of tenancy. This can range from loans to cover arrears or minor repairs to referral to floating support schemes as necessary.
Case Study- Accommodation Plus
Accommodation Plus, which began in Torbay in 1996, is run by Rethink (formerly National Schizophrenia Fellowship) and offers private sector accommodation with support to people with a mental health illness. The service focuses on training and supporting for landlords.
Landlords are funded through the Supporting People programme, with payments in 5 bands, ranging from £35 to £105 per week depending on the level of support required by the tenant. In addition there is a £45 per person weekly admin charge to the SP budget. Landlords have to provide references and are police checked. Once accepted, they attend monthly training sessions, which cover housing and mental health related subjects.
Landlords were initially recruited through word of mouth, advertising and visiting landlord forums, but it was a slow process. In the first year Rethink had found one landlord and placed one tenant. Eight years later they have 28 landlords and 90 tenants. Some landlords have only one property to let while others have a large portfolio which Accommodation Plus can access.
Tenants are referred to the service by the Community Mental Health Team and if accepted are generally offered self -contained accommodation, though some landlords offer more supported accommodation with meals provided. Tenants have a clearly defined support plan agreed between them and the landlord and all information about the tenant, including the risk assessment, is shared with the landlord.
Contact Mandy.lyons@rethink.org
It is important to be as flexible as possible when seeking options in the private rented sector. One model doesn't suit all, and different client groups may need different solutions, both in procurement and developing support.
Case study- P.A.S Ltd
P.A.S Ltd and its property arm CTE are private companies providing shared supported housing in the South west. Street properties are purchased with private finance and referral arrangements set up with Probation and drug and alcohol agencies. Rents are affordable and are covered by housing benefit and support costs are met through Supporting People contracts.
One example of the flexible support packages developed by P.A.S is a scheme for people with substance misuse problems who are in structured day care from 9am to 5pm. Support workers visit the scheme in the early morning, the evening and during the night, when it is most needed.
P.A.S also runs a "time out" scheme, which is offered to residents at risk of eviction, usually because of behavioural issues, related to their substance misuse. Residents move into an intensive support unit for a short period, usually a week, which turns a crisis into a learning opportunity.
The benefits of the scheme are that is protects residents from eviction while highlighting the consequences of bad behaviour. It gives the other tenants a break and also enables mediation and reconciliation with neighbours to go ahead if they have been affected.
Contact: alankenny@pasltd.uk.com