The report released yesterday from the Work and Pensions and Communities and Local Government Committees on the future of supported housing, recommends the government should scrap plans to base rent allowances for supported housing tenants on rates used for claimants in the private rented sector.
The Committees understood the importance and value of supported housing to those who live in it; catering for the long term sheltered accommodation needs of older people to the short term needs of the homeless and vulnerable. A new Supported Housing Allowance based on the actual cost of provision would safeguard the future supply of this housing, which is vital to the independence and well-being of its occupants.
West Kent’s Chief Executive Frank Czarnowski, who was one of four housing sector representatives to give evidence to the joint select committee in March said, “I’m pleased the Committees have listened to the evidence and concluded it’s inappropriate to use the Local Housing Allowance rate. A new Supported Housing Allowance would give housing organisations the certainty of funding they need to go ahead and develop much needed new supported housing.”