Blog by Molly Boydon, Programme Lead (Campaigns and Influencing) at the National Housing Federation
This year, Starts at Home is back for its eighth year on 30 August.
Starts at Home is our chance to celebrate the amaz
ing work supported housing providers do to help more than half a million people to live independently in their communities. This time, we’re extending the campaign period into the autumn, so you can keep getting involved and raising awareness on, and after, the day itself.
From older people who need some extra support, to people with mental health needs looking for a place where they can become more independent – supported accommodation delivers essential choice, support, and independence to the people who need it the most. But right now, supported housing supply is not meeting demand. Without adequate funding we know that supported housing schemes will struggle to survive, leaving thousands more people at risk of homelessness, and placing further pressure on other areas of the system, like our NHS and criminal justice systems.
With a new government, and hundreds of MPs new to Parliament, this year we have a rare opportunity to raise awareness and build new political support for the vital work supported housing providers do. Together, we can send a clear message to our representatives – why any plan for housing must include supported housing too.
What are we celebrating during Starts at Home 2024?
Everyone who works in supported housing knows just how much difference a safe, secure and tailored home makes to people’s lives across the country. Starts at Home is a chance to celebrate this, to share stories about how a supported home has changed the lives of your residents and to celebrate the hard work of your staff every day of the year.
Supported housing helps residents build healthy relationships, improves their wellbeing and boosts their independence. The research is clear: supported housing makes a huge difference to people’s lives, and it saves the public/government money.
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.
What are we calling for during Starts at Home 2024?
We need a long-term, outcomes-based plan for housing that makes sure that everyone lives in a healthy and safe home that meets their specific needs. Our research shows we need at least 167,000 more supported homes by 2040, if we are to make sure everyone who needs support at home can access it.
This year, we’re 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. This will require at least £1.6bn initially, rising to up to £3.4bn a year by 2040.
- 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. This will also help provide appropriate, affordable homes for people to move on from supported housing.
- Every decision about care to be a decision about housing. Local authorities and integrated care boards should be helped to plan for, fund and commission supported housing, to ensure supported housing is part of a strategic plan to meet housing need. This will include data collection at national and local level to understand need and a recommitment to the £300m Housing Transformation Fund.
- Improved and more flexible revenue and grant funding so we can meet the target for 10% of the Affordable Homes Programme to deliver supported housing and develop more housing for older people.
We need your help
For Starts at Home 2024, tell your MP why supported housing is so important for your community. With many MPs new to Parliament, we have a real opportunity to raise awareness of supported housing, and build key relationships with the new government. To help you organise your visit, we have put together some resources and templates for you to adapt and use. If you’ve arranged a visit, email our team and we can help you prepare key messages on the issues affecting supported housing.
Show your support on social media
On Starts at Home Day on 30 August, we’ll be creating a social media moment to get people talking about and celebrating supported housing across the country. To do this, we need you to help us get #StartsAtHome trending online.
This year, for the first time, we’re sending out a dedicated campaign pack to help supported housing providers celebrate on the day, and beyond. These packs are being delivered to housing association headquarters this week. Please do contact your housing association to see if there is a campaign pack available for your scheme, if you work in supported housing.
On 5 September, we’re hosting a webinar to showcase examples of how supported housing providers are part of strategic partnerships with local authorities and the NHS to deliver supported housing to meet need. Make sure you save the date and sign up today.