Supported housing consultation is out

The government published the supported housing consultation on Thursday 20 February, with a closing date of 15 May. 

Rachael Williamson, CIH interim director of policy, communication, and external affairs, welcomed the consultation, providing the following comment on the consultation:

"CIH welcomes the launch of the long-awaited consultation on supported housing regulation. It is crucial that we build on the measures introduced by the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 to ensure that people who need support receive the right help in the right accommodation. While most providers deliver good-quality homes and support, consistency is key. We therefore support the development of national standards and the introduction of a local licensing scheme to ensure these standards are met. We would however caution against any reduction in the scope of the housing benefit scheme.

"Supported housing plays a vital role in providing both a home and essential support for people in a range of circumstances. However, we recognise the significant challenges in expanding provision and sustaining existing schemes. We hope this consultation leads to meaningful action, particularly in addressing the financial pressures facing providers and ensuring local authorities have the resources they need to enforce new standards—key issues that CIH has highlighted in its Budget submission."

If anyone would like to feed into our response, please email policyandpractice@cih.org