SUPPORTIVE ACCOMMODATION

Temporary vs Supported Housing: The Differences and Why They Matter

Councils provide temporary accommodation (TA) for people who are experiencing homelessness while they help them to find a more permanent solution. TA comes in various forms such as B&Bs, Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs), and hostels.

In TA, you often have few to no tenancy rights because the accommodation is supposed to be a short-term solution. However, many people live in TA for years, and their limited rights mean they can be moved at short notice to another accommodation or even out of their home area.

Temporary accommodation, often a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution, is not designed to provide the support needed by more vulnerable people. Supported accommodation (SA) adds a layer of support services to the roof over their head to help them deal with complex needs such as mental health issues, substance misuse, and involvement with the criminal justice system. This support can make the difference between a successful recovery or rehabilitation and a rapid decline or reoffending.

Desperate Shortages of Temporary and Supported Accommodation

There is a lack of TA capacity. In Hackney alone, 576 people were on the waiting list for TA, 75% of whom were assessed as needing SA in July 2024. Even when those with complex needs are eventually allocated TA without wraparound support, the lack of appropriate SA can have tragic consequences; in the previous 12 months, four people died while in TA in Hackney.

According to Hackney, new SA might not be available until 2028/29, underscoring the immediate need for action and innovative solutions to bridge this gap. The problem is evident in many other boroughs across the UK.

HOMES WHEN IT MATTERS: Tackling the Shortage of Decent SA

HOMESWIM focuses on developing decent, supportive homes for people frommarginalised communities, particularly those affected by substance misuse, mental health issues, and involvement with the criminal justice system. By creating supportive housing that offers tailored assistance, HOMESWIM helps people achieve stability and improve their quality of life. We build productive, long-lasting relationships with:

Private landowners to unlock new housing opportunities, which involves negotiating land use agreements and securing funding from innovative finance houses, social impact investors and grant funders.
Local authorities to align our SA development strategy with their needs and policies.
Statutory services and other VCSEs to integrate health and social care support into housing projects, providing a holistic approach to the well-being of tenants.

Our collaborations are crucial in identifying and developing suitable sites for supportive housing, ensuring that projects meet the needs of the communities they serve.