National Statement of Expectations for Supported Housing published

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has now published its National Statement of Expectations for Supported Housing.

This is a set of guidelines for local authorities and supported housing providers, setting out good practice for the housing management aspects of supported housing provision. We are pleased to have worked with MHCLG on the National Statement of Expectations, alongside our members, to help promote good practice in supported housing provision.

We welcome the government’s decision to draw up this statement, as it shows the value the government places on supported housing as a distinct service, and shares this message to local authorities and other stakeholders. It will be a tool for local authorities to champion good practice in the supported housing sector, and can be used to make the case for increased funding for this type of housing.

The government has also announced £3m to fund pilots in five areas – Birmingham, Hull, Blackpool, Bristol and Blackburn – to improve quality, enforcement, oversight and value for money in supported housing, focusing on short-term supported accommodation. The pilots will run until the end of March 2021.

The supported housing pilots will involve collaborative working between local partners and will carefully test different approaches to greater oversight of the sector and how higher standards could be enforced. The pilots are intended to improve the quality of non-commissioned provision in priority areas.

MHCLG wants to hear feedback from supported housing providers about the National Statement of Expectations. Officials will start by engaging with our sector on an informal basis, followed by a more formal survey in around six months' time, to find out whether the framework is useful to providers and local authorities.

We will be consulting members through our National Health and Housing Forum and regional Health, Care and Supported Housing Forums.