Guidance for new supported housing schemes
Within Preston there are currently over 40 providers of Supported Accommodation, providing over 1,000 rooms of accommodation to individuals requiring supported housing.
Preston City Council are committed to:
- ensuring that the current Supported Accommodation in place meet the current and future needs of the city.
- ensuring that Supported Accommodation provided in the city is appropriately used and managed.
Supported Housing Improvement Programme (SHIP)
Preston City Council is currently part of a Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government scheme called Supported Housing Improvement Programme (SHIP).
The purpose of the scheme is to improve the standards, establish the need, value for money and impact on local communities of supported housing.
As part of the programme Preston City Council are carrying out reviews of all Supported Housing within the City, working with Housing Standards, Housing Benefits, Housing Options, external agencies and providers of supported accommodation.
The reviews are focusing on ensuring that:
- the standard of accommodation in line with Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) guidance
- support provided to the resident is of a high standard, person centred and relevant
- value for money exists and that
- the level of support meets the requirements of 'Exempt Accommodation' under Housing Benefit Regulations, where the landlord claims to be providing care, support of supervision to its tenants.
During the reviews that we have carried out so far improvements have been identified in relation to both property standards and quality of support.
The reviews have also identified that a high number of residents living in supported accommodation do not require support but are unable to move on due to the lack of affordable housing. This factor gives a misconception that there is a further need for supported accommodation in Preston.
It is also evident that certain areas of the city are overpopulated with Housing of Multiple Occupation (HMO's) occupied by vulnerable adults, which in some cases are impacting local communities and external agencies. As part of the SHIP, we are working with external agencies and communities to look at ways of sustaining these communities.
Supported Accommodation Questionnaire
If you are interested in providing Supported Accommodation within the Preston City Council area, please complete our online questionnaire.
This questionnaire will aid the Council in ensuring that supported accommodation within the city provides value for money, is relevant to the City's needs and of a high quality.
The Council also seeks to ensure affordable move on accommodation is available.
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