Page 22 - Community Living Magazine 34-3

HoUSINg HoUSINg
SHorT TErm SolUTIoNS removed in 2009 resulting in benefits appeals. There are fewer and reduced, they do have the law on
their side and can challenge decisions
many services being withdrawn.
fewer ‘front doors’ from which to seek
coUlD HAVE loNg TErm The SP funding that existed for people help on the high street and there seems to in the courts, but if people cannot
with learning disabilities has been
make the case for eligibility, the worry
be an expectation that people can apply
captured by local authorities and pooled
on line.
is that they will become homeless,
coNSEQUENcES with their social care budget so those no end up in the criminal justice system
or A&E to access any help –
longer eligible may now have no source
of support. by which time their needs will be
Faced with grant cuts, some local authorities are resorting to Am I alone in thinking far greater.
short-term housing solutions which could have long-term human The responsibility for housing rests with we will see a growth in Is this just a cynical political move to
the Housing Executive whose strategy
and financial costs. But some authorities have found creative to 2015(1) suggests they are only homelessness and more put off the costs to the long-term so that
answers, as rosemary Trustam heard at the winter conference considering people in social care people found alone in their savings can be made in the short-term,
unheated flat with no food,
ignoring the human cost?
schemes and prioritising development for
of the Housing & Support Alliance. resettlement. They haven’t identified the not understanding why their
most needy group as those not in touch benefits have stopped or Local authorities would do worse than
with any services. If people are now in knowing what to do? look at Essex’s example and consider
e know the vital role maintaining a voids reserve, or directly and try to match to what they can find. general needs housing, they may well investing in preventive housing
Wplayed by housing in with private and social landlords Sometimes they can’t find exactly what’s most likely be in privately rented services, addressing the needs of
people’s lives – indeed in all expecting the landlords to maintain needed but will compromise and have accommodation. Even if they are in the ‘disappeared’ group before these
our lives. Getting it wrong their own pooled reserve which works negotiated a rent reduction with a private social housing their rents will be rebound on their stretched resources.
can mean the difference well for landlords who have a range landlord, or adjustments with the council capped which restricts the extent to Homelessness
between building a life in your of properties. agreeing some resource. If they get it which landlords can give support. Am I alone in thinking we will see a References
community and developing a right they have also succeeded in Additionally, this group faces increasing growth in homelessness and more people (1) http://www.nihe.gov.uk/index/
fulfilling life or living in a We heard of some initiatives to source reducing the support package. difficulties with benefits, both with the found alone in their unheated flat with corporate/strategies/supporting_
miserable situation maybe housing at the Winter Housing and One example was the placement of change from DLA to PIP disability no food, not understanding why their people_strategy.htm
with people you don’t like, Support Alliance conference in a work- a young woman who had challenges benefits and the imposition of benefits have stopped or knowing what
away from your family shop presented by two providers who run placed in shared living, one suspects sanctions, in particular on people with to do? Funding for self advocacy groups (2) http://www.abcorg.net/item/
or natural community. a housing brokerage service. As well as driven by cost imperatives, which broke learning disabilities and mental health is being withdrawn or reduced, removing 416-oakley-report-dwp-committee-
The former can lead to offering a housing management service down. They managed to look at all problems (2,3). for some the only place of support and announcement
more independence, to people in their properties which they resource possibilities to get the right help – a vital preventive service.
the latter to an Assessment own or lease and to other social landlord situation and got help from the family in There is a huge shortage of sources of (3) http://www.theguardian.com/
and Treatment Centre tenants, United Response have helped a shared ownership house which help with benefits at a time when the Whilst we are concerned about the commentisfree/2015/oct/26/benefit-
because your resulting some people source housing, offering a enabled her to live alone. government has withdrawn legal aid for plight of those whose services are being sanctions-government-jobseekers-appeals
objections become challenging housing brokerage service, helping them (https://www.dimensions-uk.org/
to services and increasingly understand their housing needs and find press-release/essex-leads-way-
exclude you from the right solutions, even including how to housing-innovation/
your community. fund properties. It’s not cost free but can HoUSINg rESoUrcES The Housing and Support
make the difference for people. As a Brokerage Alliance offers its members
Some local authorities playing too direct specialist agency they also know the In an earlier issue (Creative housing advice on all aspects of
a role for the best of motives have found range of options and funding issues. solutions, Volume 29, No. 1) we lIfE bEgINS AT HomE The purpose of the guide is to help housing, support and rights.
themselves committed to high voids Where local authorities need this help saw how a small specialist provider like families and front line housing,
payments when they don’t have a they should consider that a small fee Care Housing may also offer this kind Life begins at home is a guide to health and social professionals Go to the website to access their
housing role or a voids reserve. In a might save them a lot of money. of brokerage as part of their service. housing for families and children understand the housing choices ten top links:

world where many local authorities face (http://www.unitedresponse.org.uk/ Local authorities might consider how which can be downloaded from available to them. 1 Renting from a council or
being unable to pay for their statutory to-find-a-home) small investments in skilled providers the Housing & Support Alliance’s housing association
services because of government grant and planned referrals might save them website: http://www.housingand- The Alliance encourage local
cuts, this isn’t tenable. However, nor is Essex County Council funds a housing much in breakdown costs and, support.org.uk authorities, NHS Trusts and advice 2 Renting accommodation
trying to fit the wrong people into voids brokerage service through Dimensions for most importantly, get the best outcome organisations to adapt this guide for to relatives
in shared houses which is happening people with learning disabilities, autism, for the person. This is a training and development local use. If you would like a text 3 Housing Benefit – tenancy
where service providers are not standing physical disabilities, substance abusers resource for housing, health and only version of the guide to adapt, exemptions and exclusions
up for the rights of the people and people with mental health issues. What about those people with learning social care staff to help families please contact enquiries@housingand- 4 Buying a house using Support
already there. Their priorities are people with multiple disabilities no longer supported by with children with autism/learning support.org.uk. for Mortgage Interest
needs for whom the housing service has social care? disabilities who display challenging
Security no responsibility. It’s not a crisis service behaviour, to get the housing The guide is accompanied by a 5 Renting from a private landlord
None of us would make compromises but a planned referral service. They can Whilst the government’s rent-capping they need. training and development pack and 6 Tenancy agreements for people
about our long-term homes. These are not provide a tenant sustainment service, does not so far seem to apply to films that help health, housing and with learning disabilities
student households for a short time; offering advice and information and supported housing, this is no help to It has been funded by NHS England social care professionals reflect on 7 Buying to let
they are people’s homes and security help with accessing a range of activities those no longer eligible for social care and supported by the Challenging and understand their role in helping
and the tenants are people unable to just including community links, developing support – the ‘disappeared’. These are Behaviour Foundation. 8 H&SA Special Interest Groups
up sticks and move. Short-term fixes are their tenancy management skills, people who often need this extra families get the housing they need. 9 Easy Read pages –
not the answer. budgeting and life skills. support to maintain their basic tenure. Is this your copy of the magazine? Photo options, Real lives,
This was the intention of Supporting Community Living carries regular reports on Useful videos.
There are providers who have sourced Victoria, a housing broker, explained People (SP) funding, a £1.8billion grant major conferences in our field. 10 Shared ownership,
housing themselves either as managing how it works. They look at housing from 2002, intended to help vulnerable
agents collecting the rents and passing options, involve the social worker if people live independently. However, this Keep us to date by becoming a subscriber. homebuy and HOLD
them on minus a management fee and possible to consider support needs was reduced and then the ring-fence was

20 Vol 29 No 4 | Summer 2016 Community Living www.cl-initiatives.co.uk www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 29 No 4 | Summer 2016 21