Certainty needed over housing support for vulnerable

In a letter to the government, a coalition of 15 disability charities has called for more certainty over the availability of future funding for supported housing.

The letter argued that the government needed to end ‘the shadow of uncertainty’ concerning financial support for the disabled. It highlighted that the government was yet to provide any further information on what to expect, following the Autumn statement where it announced housing benefit rates would be capped at the same level as the Local Housing Allowance from 2018.

The charities warned that 40 per cent of supported housing schemes would be at risk of closure, putting a number of disabled tenants at risk of losing their homes.

The letter said: “We had hoped for this uncertainty to be lifted by now, and that the sector would have been made aware of a positive resolution about its future. Instead, we have been told that it could continue until at least October this year, if not beyond.

“The continued uncertainty around how supported housing will be funded is causing a housing crisis for disabled people. We urge the government to end this uncertainty and make it clear as a matter of urgency that the LHA cap will play no part in the review of how supported housing will be financed from 2018 onwards and beyond.”

Jan Tregelles, chief executive of Mencap and one of the authors of the letter, explained: “The pressure on supported housing is already immense, with at least 900 more supported homes required every year for people with a learning disability alone.

“The recent government announcement of a cap on Housing Benefit rates for supported housing has created an uncertainty that has forced providers to put on hold plans to buy or build new properties, and which is likely to turn this pressure into a crisis.”