Charity calls for investment in supported housing as services 'hang by a thread’

Transformational supported housing can reduce dependence on the state and help get the country ‘working’ again – that’s the message to the next government from Framework, the charity working on the frontline supporting homeless people across the East Midlands.

Chief Executive Andrew Redfern is calling on the next government to ring-fence the funding of supported housing that provides a lifeline to vulnerable people including those who are homeless, people with mental health or learning disabilities, people struggling with drug and alcohol issues, care leavers and women fleeing domestic abuse.

His call comes as many organisations’ services are struggling to survive – with many closing their doors altogether – in the face of financial pressure from new regulations, planning restrictions, council decommissioning, contract value reductions, energy prices, material costs and the national living wage. 

Andrew Redfern said: “The neglect of supported housing by central and local government is not merely a false economy, but an emerging catastrophe.  Its disintegration has exacerbated strain across the whole spectrum of public services.  Spending has shifted away from prevention which increases the financial and human cost of crisis management.  

“The next government must reverse this by re-establishing a secure, ring-fenced fund to meet the support needs of vulnerable people who live in the community.  This will enable them to develop the confidence and skills to make their distinctive contribution to a caring, cohesive and prosperous nation.”

All parliamentary candidates across the UK – more than 3,000 in total – have received a video address from Andrew Redfern outlining the wide-ranging benefits to public services from properly resourced supported housing. He also addresses why rough sleeping has increased, what needs to be done about it, and where government investment should be directed. 

“Supported housing can be transformational for individuals and communities.  It is a key component of any credible strategy to reduce homelessness and tackle rough sleeping.  It reduces the pressure on criminal justice, public health and specialist care services,” said Mr Redfern. 

“To reduce dependence on the state – and literally get the country ‘working’ again – high-quality, user-centred and properly resourced supported housing is essential.       

“Yet services providing homes with support for vulnerable people – such those who are homeless, people with mental health or learning disabilities, care leavers and women fleeing domestic abuse, are besieged and struggling to survive. Some services have closed their doors already, and many of those that endure are hanging by a thread.”   

Watch Andrew Redfern’s video appeal to parliamentary candidates.

In addition Mr Redfern has recorded a series of bitesize videos for Framework’s social media channels under the slogan Homelessness is a Policy Choice.