This year we’re supporting the Starts at Home campaign which celebrates the positive impact of supported housing in our communities.
Starts at Home is back for its eighth year. Through the campaign we will shine a light on the community and reassurance that our independent living schemes provide and the brilliant work of our colleagues across our schemes.
Supported housing is here to help a range of people, from those who need an extra hand in their older years, to people with mental health needs looking for a place where they can become more independent. Supported accommodation delivers essential choice and support to the people who need it the most.
You can read more about the impact our independent living schemes have from George who lives at Croftlands Extra Care, and Karen and Jean who live Ashfield House. A study from the National Housing Federation (NHF) has found that in the UK, we will need at least 167,000 more supported homes by 2040 to meet demand.
According to NHF research, without supported housing, there would be:
- 41,000 more homeless people – costing over £40,000 per person per year
- A need for 14,000 more inpatient psychiatric places, costing £170,000 per person per year
- A need for 2,500 more residential care places, each costing £45,000-£50,000 per year
- A need for 2,000 more prison places, each costing £32,700 per year
This year the Starts at Home campaign is calling for:
- A commitment to at least 167,000 more supported homes by 2040 to meet supported housing need
- Ring-fenced funding for housing-related support to be allocated to local authorities in England, to allow local authorities to maintain and commission much-needed supported housing
- A long-term plan for housing that ensures everyone can live as independently as possible, for as long as possible, in a home that meets their needs
- Every decision about care to be a decision about housing.
- Improved and more flexible revenue and grant funding so it can meet the target for 10% of the Affordable Homes Programme to deliver supported housing and develop more housing for older people