The government has shared its plans for the future funding of supported housing. Supported housing, including refuges and all forms of short-term supported housing, will be funded by housing benefit and kept outside of the Universal Credit system.
Housing Minister, Kit Malthouse MP, said:
“Protection of the most vulnerable has always been our primary concern, and following our consultation, the case for keeping supported housing in the welfare system became clear.
“The sector also recognised that our aim of improving the quality of homes must be addressed, and we look forward to now working with partners to make sure we have strong measures in place.”
Minister for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance, Justin Tomlinson MP, said:
“We are committed to ensuring that vulnerable people have access to the supported housing they need to live safely and independently.
“We value the expertise of stakeholders and have listened carefully to their concerns during the consultation.
“As a result we will continue to pay housing benefit for all supported housing –making sure safe homes are provided for those that need it most.”
Alongside this, Government announced it will work with providers, local authorities, membership bodies and resident representatives over the coming months to develop a robust oversight regime. This work will ensure quality and value for money across the whole supported housing sector.
In addition, a review of housing related support will be undertaken to better understand how housing and support currently fit together.