Learning from lived experience of supported housing

This paper synthesises existing literature on experiences of supported housing since the removal of the Supporting People ringfence in 2009/10. The aim is to ensure that our proposals for the future of supported housing are shaped around the insight generated by lived experience.

Research on the lived experience of supported housing is limited, particularly at the national level, with little examination taken across groups. Available literature was thus selected to reflect the range of supported groups, including floating support and those unable to access supported housing, to understand the unique challenges, experiences, and needs of each group and where they might overlap.

Literature was drawn from government body or agency reviews and lived experience forums, provider and representative organisation papers, resident testimonies from provider websites, and peer-reviewed qualitative research published within the last decade. This selection offers national and local perspectives, intended to capture breadth across England whilst foregrounding resident voice. However, existing literature is limited by the relative gap on older people’s perspectives, and the minimal resident-led discussion on how to improve supported housing.

The first section identifies where residents feel supported housing works effectively, summarising that all groups value:

• Person-centred support that promotes autonomy, choice, and the sense of a home.
• Regularly available, empathetic support.
• Meaningful activity directed towards personal development and independent living.
• Safety and stability as a foundation for recovery and wellbeing.
• A balance of private and communal areas to promote belonging and social connection.

The second section focuses on key barriers and challenges highlighted by residents within supported housing, which indicate the conditions for a more resident-centred supported housing system are:

• Greater resident involvement in decisions about accommodation, support planning and move-on pathways.
• More flexible, person-centred housing pathways, including longer stays where appropriate and greater influence over suitability.
• Improved housing quality, specialist support and trauma-informed practice.
• Better integration between housing, health, social care and support services.
• Sustainable funding that enables providers to recruit, retain and develop skilled staff.

Given the high levels of unmet support needs, the paper finally considers the human impact of being unable to access support for those who need it. These include:

• People in temporary accommodation.
• People in ‘rogue’ exempt accommodation .
• Prison leavers.
• People with learning disabilities in hospital institutions.

Across these settings, residents described instability, unsafe environments, inadequate support, and poorer wellbeing resulting from shortages of appropriate accommodation-based services. These experiences suggest that a lack of access to supported housing not only limits rehabilitation and recovery, but can also contribute to repeat homelessness, reoffending, institutionalisation, and long-term harm for individuals and their families.