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Private Access; Public Gain

Private Access; Public Gain. The use of the private rented sector for homeless or vulnerable single people Jane Luby. Housing and Social Inclusion. Housing is the foundation of community care and community life Dominant models for single homeless people are shared housing and hostels

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Private Access; Public Gain

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  1. Private Access; Public Gain The use of the private rented sector for homeless or vulnerable single people Jane Luby

  2. Housing and Social Inclusion • Housing is the foundation of community care and community life • Dominant models for single homeless people are shared housing and hostels • Acute shortage of move-on in London’s hostels • Service users consistently state preference for self-contained housing • ‘Ordinary’ housing supports social inclusion • Location can be crucial for some single homeless or vulnerable people

  3. Social Housing: Pros and Cons • A quarter of London’s housing • Affordable • Relatively secure • Choice is limited to host borough • ‘Choice’ for single people often means a bedsit on a high rise estate • Waits can be seven years or more

  4. Private Rented: Pros and Cons • A fifth of London’s housing • Rents can be double those in social housing • Less secure form of tenure • Most landlords want to rent long term to same tenants • Private sector access schemes can deliver good quality private rented homes quickly in an area of choice (inc. out of borough)

  5. Good Private Sector Access Schemes……. • Offer financial security for landlord and tenant via deposits and streamlining of HB • Can screen out unsuitable properties and landlords • Assess suitability of tenants prior to referral • Offer vital support to both landlords and tenants • Act quickly to prevent or address any problems • Cost around £1,600 per tenant rehoused, plus floating support costs

  6. Real life examples: • Everton – 35 – Lost job with live-in accom – Has now outstayed welcome with friends/family – Has no priority for social housing – Private landlords will not accept as on benefit & can’t find deposit – Started to sleep rough and health deteriorating • Tony – 40 - Chronic Alcoholic - Lives in Hostel – Wants detox/rehab – But would need to return to same Hostel where current ‘drinking partners’ live • Miraz – 25 - Offender due for release – Wants to move to be away for ‘fresh start’ – Is only being offered housing in own borough • Janet – 53 – In supported housing for people with mental health needs for two years – Assessed as ready for move-on – Bidding for council flats – Wait of at least two years likely

  7. Strategic Benefits • Frees up places in hostels & supported housing London • Can reduce use of residential care & prison, & prevent rough sleeping • Prevents institutionalisation & supports independence • Can support care and rehab outcomes • Greater choice for those who need it • Particularly suitable for substance misusers, offenders and others for whom location and timing of housing is crucial • Need not act as a barrier to work • Highly cost-effective

  8. Who can fund Private Sector Access schemes? • SP authorities • Drug Intervention Programme • Probation Partnership Fund • Homelessness Prevention Fund • Substance Misuse Partnership • Health and social care commissioners • A good scheme can rehouse 120 people a year with support at cost of £350k • …..and reap net ‘savings’ in excess of £588k

  9. Savings from freeing up hostel places Housing Cost to secureSupportTotal optiontenancy Hostel £0 £7,800 £7,800 PRS £1,600 £1,300 £2,900 Net ‘saving’ per unit £4,900

  10. Savings for health and social care commissioners Tenant A moves from SH to PRS with care & support package Saving = £1,393 Tenant B moves from Res Care to SH Saving = £12,354 Total saving = £13,747

  11. Economic benefits Provides accom & support/supervision which is • 60% of cost of hostel place • 2/3 cost of prison place • a fraction of the health, criminal justice & homelessness costs of rough sleeping Freeing up the 2,800 hostel places occupied by people ready to move-on would ‘save’ £14 million across London

  12. In summary….. • Setting up or extending a private sector access scheme to work with single homeless or vulnerable people can: - deliver good quality housing for those who need only visiting or no support - give service users more choice over where they live - support the delivery of care, rehabilitation and social inclusion outcomes - free up places in supported housing for those who need it most - create considerable savings for commissioners

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