Category Archives: Opinion

Local collaboration centric to tackling complexities of homelessness

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Playing a part in reducing homelessness is woven into Bromford’s culture, strategy and operations, writes Hazel O’Halloran, the housing association’s Head of Homelessness and Community Investment.

World Homelessness Day, held on 10th October each year, is as a global call to action, bringing attention to the pressing issue of homelessness and inspiring efforts to find lasting solutions. For organisations like Bromford, this day highlights the importance of initiatives such as the Homes for Cathy commitments. These commitments reflect Bromford’s dedication to reducing homelessness by working collaboratively with local authorities and tailoring services to the needs of those who require a safe affordable home.

I’m really proud of the work Bromford do in this space as we have embedded a culture where we have woven into the our organisation’s strategy and operations how we play our part in social justice to reduce homelessness. We remained focussed that it’s our social purpose and acknowledge that housing providers such as us are critical to the solution.

The first Homes for Cathy commitment, “To contribute to the development and execution of local authority homelessness strategies” emphasises the importance of working closely with local authorities to align housing services with regional efforts to reduce and prevent homelessness.

Multi-agency cooperation

Our partnership approach is centric to what we do, particularly when tackling the complexities of homelessness as this requires multi-agency cooperation. By collaborating with our local authorities, Bromford is better equipped to provide housing solutions that meet the diverse needs of people in different areas. That’s why we have a focussed geographical area in which we work, and although this covers 39 local authority areas, in our ‘big four’ – Lichfield, Tewkesbury, Cotswolds, South Gloucestershire – we are the main provider of social housing. We meet regularly with our ‘big four’ local authorities to better understand the demands and pressures they experience, so that we can consider how we can adapt the services we deliver.

The second Homes for Cathy commitment – “To work with stakeholders and people with lived experience of homelessness to provide a range of affordable housing and services which meet the needs of homeless people in their local communities” – aligns with Bromford’s overall strategy of strengthening communities by delivering housing that enables people thrive. It’s part of our long-term mission to work closely with stakeholders that goes beyond simply providing homes.

Each customer has an individual relationship

Bromford’s approach to housing is customer-centred and we have adopted a more proactive rather than reactive approach which has developed by building external relationships with local authorities and partners as well as knowing our customers and communities. Bromford operates with a flexible, compassionate approach which allows us to address the unique needs of individuals. Our Neighbourhood Coaching model compliments us being able to house those in the greatest need as each customer will have an individual relationship. We care about the people who live in our homes and want each of them to be able to achieve their goals in life. We know this will be different for each customer but we want to do all we can to help them thrive.  

An example of this would be our highly success Housing First projects, which were fostered by listening to the local authority and the needs of the local community. Housing First provides permanent housing solutions to a specific group of people who have a history of repeat homelessness, very complex needs, and often experience multiple disadvantage, and other housing options have not been successful in resolving their homelessness. Our Housing First has been operating in the Cotswolds for a couple of years and has recently been rolled out in Tewkesbury. Despite the lack of funding from the government, for vital projects like Housing First, it has been through collaboration and determination that we have worked with the local authorities and local support provider to find solutions to provide this much needed the service.

As World Homelessness Day shines a light on the global issue of homelessness, it also offers a moment to reflect on the work being done locally. Bromford’s strategy places long-term, sustainable housing solutions at its core and we ensure that housing is a foundation for future stability and thriving communities. We will take a place-based approach to tailoring how we work to the needs and aspirations of the individual communities in which we work. And we will use our size, our influence and our resources to maximise the social and economic impact we have in these places. Through our partnerships with local authorities and our flexible approach to housing, Bromford is contributing to a society where everyone should a place to call home – a message that resonates powerfully on World Homelessness Day.

A community-based approach to supporting ‘at risk’ tenancies

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To mark 2024’s World Homelessness Day on 10 October, Jude McCaffrey, Head of Housing at Soha Housing, explains how a community-based strategy can support the maintenance of ‘at risk’ tenancies with the aim of promoting zero evictions into homelessness.

Committed to zero evictions

Witnessing the devastating impact of homelessness first-hand, Soha stands by the Homes for Cathy Commitment 8: “to offer support to maintain ‘at risk’ tenancies and not make homeless any tenant who is engaging with the landlord”. As a community-based organisation, we have taken a proactive stance to support ‘at risk’ tenants in maintaining their tenancies; thereby aiming to prevent homelessness through relationship building and community support.

Why we’ve invested in support

Soha’s zero evictions into homelessness commitment stems from our deep-rooted connection to the communities we serve. Mutually owned by residents and staff, we are acutely aware of the challenges faced by those experiencing homelessness. The presence of rough sleepers in Oxfordshire market towns, and the frequent visits from people affected by homelessness seeking assistance at Soha’s town centre office, highlight the urgent need for action.

Oxfordshire is often perceived as a region of picturesque rural villages and a pleasant environment. However, for many the reality is starkly different. High housing costs, and a reduction in statutory support for people with mental health issues or addiction problems, have contributed to a significant homelessness problem in the area. Our commitment is driven by the desire to address these issues and provide tangible support to those in need.

Our approach to tenancy sustainment

To achieve our goal of zero evictions, Soha has implemented a comprehensive approach to tenancy sustainment. This involves:

  • Early intervention: Soha prioritises early intervention to identify and address potential issues before they escalate. This involves working proactively with tenants at risk and providing them with the necessary resources and support to prevent eviction.
  • Dedicated Tenancy Sustainment Officers: Soha has appointed Tenancy Sustainment Officers in each of its five localities. These officers work closely with tenants who are facing challenges that could lead to eviction, providing support and guidance to help them overcome barriers to maintain their tenancy.
  • Building relationships: Soha’s Tenancy Sustainment Officers strive to build strong relationships with tenants, fostering trust and understanding. This enables them to provide effective support and guidance, tailored to the individual needs of each tenant.
  • Collaboration with partners: Soha works closely with local authorities and other organisations to ensure that tenants have access to the support they need. This includes collaborating on initiatives to prevent homelessness and provide alternative accommodation for people who are facing eviction.

Case study: Supporting a tenant at risk of homelessness

One notable case involves a Housing First resident who was struggling with rent arrears and causing disturbances for their neighbours due to noise and unwelcome visitors. The Tenancy Sustainment team intervened by building a rapport with the resident, meeting them in a neutral space to establish trust.

This trust enabled the Tenancy Sustainment Officer to assist the resident with their benefits and create an arrears repayment plan. Additionally, firm boundaries were set regarding visitors, which helped protect the resident’s home from unwelcome attention. As a result, there was a significant reduction in arrears and neighbour complaints, ultimately avoiding the need for enforcement action.

Locality-based approach

Soha’s operating area is divided into five localities, each with a dedicated Tenancy Sustainment Officer. These officers work closely with their colleagues in Income, Neighbourhoods, Lettings, and wider locality-based teams. This structure allows us to identify and support at-risk residents early.

The proactive approach taken by our Tenancy Sustainment team is instrumental in maintaining tenancies and preventing homelessness. By working collaboratively with residents and providing tailored support, we can address issues before they escalate, fostering a stable and secure living environment for all tenants.

The business and social case for avoiding evictions

There is a compelling business case for avoiding evictions, as well as a strong social imperative. Evictions typically cost Soha over £10,000 each, factoring in legal costs, void costs, and arrears ultimately written off. By preventing evictions, significant financial resources are saved, which contributes to community stability and the well-being of its residents.

Soha’s commitment to Homes for Cathy

Our commitment to preventing homelessness aligns with the Homes for Cathy cause, which focuses on solving and avoiding evictions in local areas. Last financial year, Soha completed 11 legal evictions, a marked reduction from the 20 to 30 evictions typically seen before joining Homes for Cathy. Of these 11 evictions, 8 were repossessions of abandoned homes, and only 3 were true evictions. For these 3 cases, Soha worked with local authority partners to ensure that the tenants had alternative accommodation.

Committed to zero evictions

Our commitment to preventing homelessness is a reflection of our core values as a community-based landlord. By supporting at-risk tenants, implementing a proactive locality-based approach, and engaging in county-wide initiatives, we are making significant strides in maintaining tenancies and preventing homelessness. The financial and social benefits of avoiding evictions further underscore the importance of this commitment. 

As we continues to work towards our goals, Soha remains dedicated to our Homes for Cathy commitment, and the broader mission of preventing homelessness in Oxfordshire and beyond.

Preventing future homelessness is possible with focused support and small measures that have a big impact

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Bournville Village Trust (BVT) is taking positive steps to prevent homelessness by ensuring customers have the best start in their homes, including measures that make a real difference for care leavers leaving its supported accommodation and moving to independent living, writes Arthur Tsang, Director of Communities.

Like many cities in the UK, Birmingham has seen the number of people looking for help linked to homelessness rise. Last year, the average number of people seeking support was 30% higher than in 2020, and 20% higher than in 2021. In 2023, there were also nearly 4,500 families living in temporary accommodation, with more than 1,000 in B&Bs or hotels. As we mark World Homeless Day, it’s important to ask ourselves if we’re really doing everything we can as providers of social housing to prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place.

Like many providers, we work hard to help people sustain their tenancies by offering key day-to-day services and support. Our income and money matters teams help customers with managing their rent accounts, including offering additional support to those struggling financially such as assisting them to claim benefits, apply for grants or support and make referrals to specialist agencies and charities on their behalf. In addition to this, our neighbourhood coordinators support customers with tenancy issues or queries and signpost them to community support that helps them to thrive in their home and community.

All these services are vital in supporting customers to successfully manage and keep their tenancies, but we knew we could do more to make sure we’re giving people the best start in their home. In 2019, we worked with customers to review the standard of service they can expect from us when they move into a home. One of the things customers told us was that decorating their new property was an expense they couldn’t often afford, but that it was one of the most important ways to make their house feel like home. In response, we now offer all new tenants a decoration voucher of £200 for homes with up to two bedrooms or £300 for homes with three bedrooms or more, where redecoration is needed. Whilst it may seem like a small gesture, it has a big impact.

Customers have the freedom to put their own stamp on the property

Not only do the vouchers help reduce the initial expense of moving into a new home, but they give customers the freedom to put their own stamp on the property. It also reduces the demands of redecorating work on our in-house Maintenance Services team.

Thanks to support from the Edward Cadbury Trust, we also have funding specifically to prevent homelessness in some of our Telford communities that don’t have access to statutory support. This fund is vital in helping tenants who are in serious debt and rent arrears to reduce debt and gain financial stability.

Care leavers are one example of customers who need a higher level of support to sustain their tenancy

We recognise that some customers need a higher level of support to sustain their tenancy and reduce the risk of homelessness, and care leavers are just one example of this. According to care charity Become, more than 4,300 care leavers became homeless last year – an increase of 54% in the last five years.

At BVT, we have been working with care leavers since 2001, providing specialist support through our independent living scheme in Birmingham, the Holdings. Many of the young people we work with come to us having experienced trauma, abuse or exploitation and increasingly, we’re also seeing more young people with complex mental health or neurodivergent needs.

Whilst with us, young people have access to a full range of support from education, training or work to managing their health and wellbeing and giving them the skills for independent living, such as cooking, shopping and paying bills. Most importantly, we provide an open door and a listening ear.

When young people leave us at 18, we offer a minimum six-month floating support service to help the transition from supported accommodation to independent living. Where suitable, our care leavers are also offered first refusal on all our studio or one-bedroom flats, so they can stay in the area if they choose to. All our care leavers’ accommodation comes furnished and young people can take this furniture, which includes a bed, bedroom furniture and white goods, with them when they leave us, even if they don’t stay in one of our properties. This helps the household grant they get from the local authority go that bit further and makes the move to their new home more familiar and comforting.

Get to really know your young tenants

As a small community-based charitable trust, we’re in a good position to offer this service but there’s a lot that other, large housing providers can do to support care leavers to sustain their tenancies. If you manage care leavers’ accommodation, leave the door open for young people to check in with you – a short conversation could change their day! If you don’t provide specialist accommodation like this, still get to really know your young tenants and if they are a care leaver, consider that they may need additional support to live in their home.

Homelessness may be on the rise in Birmingham and across the country, but with focused support and small measures that have a big impact, it doesn’t have to be inevitable for social housing tenants or care leavers.

Homes for Cathy at Housing 2024 – What did our sector leaders have to say on homelessness? 

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By Vicki McDonald, Communications & Member Engagement Lead, Homes for Cathy

With multiple priorities affecting the housing sector – and a general election just days away – it was encouraging to see homelessness feature prominently in discussions at last week’s Housing 2024 in Manchester. 

In a Masterclass session entitled ‘A place to call home: the long-term plan to end homelessness’ chaired by Baljit Basra of Devonshire’s Solicitors, Homes for Cathy chair David Bogle spoke alongside fellow panellists Seyi Obakin, CEO of Centrepoint, Alice Lamb, Deputy Chief Executive of LandAid and John Greaves, Chief Impact Officer at Places for People.   

L to R: John Greaves, David Bogle, Alice Lamb, Seyi Obakin, Baljit Basra

With 1.3 million people in England in the queue for social housing – and one young person asking their council for homelessness assistance every four minutes – the panel agreed that drastic action is needed now if future generations are to avoid a lifetime of precarious housing. 

There was consensus among the panel that there is no solution to homelessness that does not involve building more homes – and no answer that does not involve government investment or the contribution of housing associations.  Other insights and recommendations from the panel included: 

  • Reduce the upstream to ‘stop the flow’ – early intervention through youth and family services – such as Australia’s Geelong Project and a pilot in Welsh schools – have been proven to lead to a significant reduction in adolescent homelessness. 
  • Homes of the right size are vital – homeless young people need single bed ‘stepping stone’ homes. 
  • Link the affordability model to income – if social homes aren’t affordable to the lowest paid in society, where else can people on low incomes turn?  However, rents can only be driven down with government subsidy. 
  • A multi-agency approach and partnership working is crucial – a good example is The Royal Foundation’s Homewards initiative, involving public and private sector collaboration to solve homelessness in cities such as Sheffield. 
  • Housing associations have the resources to build – but they need targets, time and a planning system that allows them to buy sites for development.  A more immediate solution, advocated by LandAid, could be to acquire and convert empty homes and commercial spaces into social housing. 

Homes for Cathy was also represented at the popular Fringe Festival stage – set out this year as a cosy living room – where I chaired a thought-provoking discussion on ‘Removing barriers to accessing homes and services for people at greater risk of homelessness’.   

L to R: Vicki McDonald, Olivia Campbell-Cavendish, Steven McIntyre, Maame Esi Yankah

The session examined why certain groups – such as ethnically diverse and LGBTQ+ communities – are more likely to be affected by homelessness and what we can do to address this within our sector, a topic which is reflected in the updated Homes for Cathy commitments. 

Homelessness statistics back up the importance of such discussions.  According to figures from Shelter, 23% of people who seek help as they are homeless or at immediate risk of becoming homeless in England are Black (10%), Asian (6%), from a Mixed ethnic background (3%) or from an Other ethnic group (4%) – despite making up just 14% of households in the 2021 census.  Research from Stonewall shows that almost one in five LGB people have experienced homelessness at some point in their lives, while rates are even higher amongst trans people, with 25% having experienced homelessness at some point. 

I was joined by an expert panel including Steven McIntyre, Chief Executive of Stonewall Housing, Maame Esi Yankah, lived experience speaker and Crisis Venture Studio entrepreneur and Olivia Campbell-Cavendish, House of Stonewall ambassador and a human rights and civil liberties lawyer.   

The conversation was both insightful and moving – here’s what I took away: 

  • Know who your residents are – if you know their protected characteristics, you can design services to meet their needs.  It’s only by understanding who our residents are that we can put the resources in place to engage them at a strategic level and ensure they feel safe to be themselves and make their voices heard. 
  • Cultural competence is key – we need to understand and recognise our own prejudices and judgements and stop making assumptions.  Staff training can be valuable in tackling unconscious bias. 
  • Create safe spaces in homelessness services – for example, LGBTQ+ people can fear harassment from other service users, particularly when sharing bedrooms, bathrooms and communal spaces, so self-contained spaces can make a real difference to their feelings of safety.  A psychologically-informed environment (PIE) in services has a positive impact for people who are marginalised. 
  • Treat every person as an individual – it’s vital to take a person-centred approach that recognises the past trauma and discrimination people from minority groups may have experienced in their homelessness journey. 
Steven McIntyre, CEO of Stonewall Housing, discusses the importance of knowing your residents

Nurturing partnerships to support people seeking sanctuary

Charlotte Murray, Director of Care, Health & Wellbeing at South Yorkshire Housing Association, shares how local collaboration is ensuring people seeking sanctuary have access to the support they need to settle in the UK.

In June, during Refugee Week, we got together with local people and organisations to build connections, share stories, and learn more about how we can continue to welcome and support people seeking sanctuary.

Our event celebrated everything that migrants and refugees bring to our country and communities, and shared more about our commitment to ending homelessness. We launched our new report: Ending homelessness for people seeking sanctuary in South Yorkshire. The report shares more about how we are collaborating with local organisations to fulfil the Homes for Cathy commitment to Contribute to ending migrant homelessness in the areas that Housing Associations operate; it includes examples of how we’re working with people seeking sanctuary to settle in a safe, secure home, to build connections, and to get into employment, training and education.


“I have lived experience of homelessness, and my goal is to help people. I think we can work miracles!”

– Ashiana service user

Above: Charlotte Murray, Director of Care, Health & Wellbeing at SYHA


We also heard from people that have worked with Ashiana, an organisation that supports Black, Asian, minority ethnic and refugee adults, children and young people fleeing domestic and sexual abuse. They generously shared more about their experiences – it was great to hear about what support worked well, their ideas for improving and growing our services, and about their goals for the future.

Above: Sheffield Central Councillor, Abtisam Mohamed

Globalmama provided us with a delicious lunch, and we also enjoyed a lively Zumba class with Shahina, and Sana offered our attendees beautiful henna. A huge thank you to everyone that joined us, including local Councillors Abtisam Mohamed and Nighat Basharat, and to Civica and Node4 for sponsoring the event. The event really highlighted the importance of creating, nurturing and growing great partnerships, and the dedication of local people and organisations to supporting people seeking sanctuary.

Read the report: https://www.syha.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Ending-homelessness-for-people-seeking-sanctuary-in-South-Yorkshire-FINAL.pdf

It’s right that the sector focuses on tenant satisfaction but where does homelessness fit in? 

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Our Homes for Cathy panel discussion at last week’s Housing 2023 Fringe asked the question: Could an increased focus on tenant satisfaction undermine the sector’s work around homelessness? 

Homes for Cathy chair David Bogle steered the discussion between expert panellists Jo Richardson, Professor of Housing & Social Inclusion at De Montfort University, CIH past president and author of the Homeful report into housing-led approaches to ending homelessness; Callum Chomczuk, National Director, CIH Scotland; and Faye Greaves, Housing Programme Manager at Crisis. 

The discussion was a timely one, coinciding with news that the Social Housing Regulation Bill is set to become law after clearing both Houses.  This signifies the biggest changes to social housing regulation in a decade, including the introduction of a proactive consumer regulation regime underpinned by new consumer standards.   

The Regulator has already identified the themes the consumer standards are set to cover and will consult on the detail of each theme over the summer.  In advance of this planned consultation, the panellists gave their views on how the standards could best meet the needs of those experiencing or at risk of homelessness and the wider system changes that are needed to put an end to homelessness.   

A key area of focus for the panellists was the theme of ‘tenure’; under this theme, the Regulator has cited that landlords’ allocation process must be ‘fair, transparent and accessible to all’ and identified the importance of effective tenancy management so that ‘tenancies are sustained where appropriate’ including ‘supporting tenants, as well as working closely, and cooperating with local authorities in meeting their duties’.    

Here are our five key takeaways from the discussion: 

Three areas where housing associations can have an impact homelessness 

There are three key areas where housing associations can have an impact on homelessness: allocations and lettings to homeless households; tenancy sustainment and avoiding evictions into homelessness.  Despite constraints, the fact that some housing associations perform better than others in these areas shows that there is room for improvement. 

Current tenancy standards are not sufficient 

Under the existing tenancy standards, housing associations’ requirement to support local authorities in the execution of their homeless duties and to help sustain tenancies are not sufficient – we need to challenge housing associations on their nominations through homelessness channels.  If housing associations can’t provide housing and support for people who can’t afford the market, who can?  Unlocking access to social homes for people coming from homelessness is vital.  A code of practice around housing associations’ homelessness expectations based on the Homes for Cathy commitments could be beneficial.   

Processes can come before people 

In an environment where resources are scarce, processes can come before people and individual inconsistencies across organisations can ‘lock people out’.  Leaving the system to work itself out is not working – we need to look at ways providers can do better with regulatory accountability in the background.  One example cited was affordability assessments – as tenant support needs go up and housing-related support is squeezed, these need to be used as enablers and facilitators to give tenants access to the wider support system.   

Scottish RRTP example shows funding is a driver for partnership working 

In Scotland Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans (RRTPs), plans developed by each of the 32 local authorities to reduce the use of temporary accommodation, have created a driver for partnership working between local authorities and registered providers.  It’s proof that with political will and appropriate funding, homelessness can be alleviated (in 2019-20 the share of Scottish RP lettings to homeless households was 45%).  However, both the funding and the approach need to be long-term – we don’t always need to look for ‘shiny new things’ to make a difference. 

It’s a case of supply and demand 

Ultimately, we need more capital investment in housing to provide more social homes – it’s a case of supply and demand.  Currently we are using temporary accommodation as the default housing option.  Planning applications are already substantially down year-on- year.  We need housing associations to keep developing new social homes and not be creating any further development disincentives. 

Written by Vicki McDonald

Vicki is the Social Impact Manager at Hightown Housing Association and leads on communications and member engagement for the Homes for Cathy campaign.

Furniture provision ‘piece of the puzzle’ to sustainable tenancies as cost of living escalates

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Social housing tenants moving on from homelessness should be offered a home, not just an empty box, writes Claire Donovan, Head of Policy, Research & Campaigns at End Furniture Poverty

Members of the Homes for Cathy alliance work tirelessly to end homelessness but at End Furniture Poverty we believe that there is a missing piece of the puzzle.

Homes for Cathy Commitment 7 says: “To ensure that properties offered to homeless people should be ready to move into.” We believe that this means they should be offered a home, not just an empty box.

Furniture prices have risen by 50%

The vast majority of people moving on from homelessness will have no furniture or household appliances, or the resources to buy the items they need. The cost of furnishing a home is even more challenging now as furniture prices have risen by 50% over the past 10 years.

End Furniture Poverty has been supporting social landlords for several years, helping them to understand the benefits of a furnished tenancy scheme and to prepare business cases for new schemes.

We have now been able to take it one stage further thanks to funding from the Fusion21 Foundation and have produced a Blueprint for Furniture Provision in Social Housing.

This step-by-step guide helps landlords to understand how a furnished tenancy can work, how to set the appropriate service charge, and how to ensure that they can support their tenants who could otherwise be living without essential furniture items.

It explains how the capital cost of the furniture can be recouped through the service charge element of Universal Credit making schemes sustainable and allowing landlords to help many more tenants.

The Blueprint also examines the different ways furniture can be provided, through more traditional furnished tenancies, and also separate furniture rental agreements. It provides information on operations, staffing, data strategy and performance measurement, case studies on existing furniture provision, and a full financial modelling section.

Devastating impact of living without essential items

Living without essential furniture items has a devastating impact on people’s mental and physical health, and their social and financial wellbeing. Tenants can build up huge debt if they turn to high cost credit to buy items, leaving them unable to pay their rent, and even leading to tenancies failing.

In these challenging times, other sources of support are becoming much harder to access as more local welfare assistance schemes are being closed by local authorities and the grant giving charitable sector are becoming overwhelmed with applications.

We explored the extent of furniture provision in social housing in No Place like Home, a report published in 2021 which showed that only 2% of socially rented properties were let as fully or partly furnished, compared to 29% in the private rental sector and looked at the impact living without essential furniture was having on tenants, and on tenancies.

Some social landlords have pots of funding to support tenants to set up their home but this approach can be unsustainable and as budgets face further pressures in the months ahead, furnished tenancies can provide an ideal solution.

Conversations with landlords across the UK over the past year have shown that interest in furniture provision is growing as organisations realise that tenants are struggling to furnish their homes and much more help is needed and we hope our Blueprint will help many more to get schemes off the ground.

End Furniture Poverty are holding a webinar on Friday, 18th November, 10.30am to 11.30am, to talk through the steps outlined in the Blueprint. Ian Fyfe, Furnished Tenancy Manager from Torus, and Paul Aitkin, Group Commercial Manager at Karbon Homes, will also be sharing best practice from furnished tenancy schemes. Email info@EndFurniturePoverty.org to register to attend.

If you are unable to attend the webinar on November 18th, we are happy to meet with any landlords to offer one-to-one support. Just get in touch to find out more.

We are facing the worst cost of living crisis in decades and tenants urgently need support. Furnished tenancies provide a sustainable solution with benefits to landlord and tenants.

Quite simply, why wouldn’t you consider it?

Together we can End Furniture Poverty.

To view the Blueprint, visit https://endfurniturepoverty.org/research-campaigns/furniture-provision-in-social-housing/a-blueprint-for-furniture-provision-in-social-housing/

Claire Donovan, Head of Policy, Research & Campaigns at End Furniture Poverty

Are you doing enough to prevent women’s homelessness?

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As we mark both NO MORE Week (6-12 March) and International Women’s Day (8 March), Homes for Cathy’s Vicki McDonald examines the link between women’s homelessness and violence against women and calls on the housing sector to challenge itself to do more to tackle the issue.

The stereotypical image of someone experiencing homelessness is usually a male, usually a person living on the street.  While the official statistics show that most people rough sleeping in England are indeed male – amounting to 85 per cent of the total – what often isn’t recognised is that women experience homelessness differently to men.

According to the Kerslake Commission on Rough Sleeping‘s final report: ‘Women are often hidden whilst homeless or rough sleeping, finding secluded sleep sites or using tents, staying with friends or family, sleeping on buses or with strangers who expect sex in return for shelter, or wearing baggy clothes to hide their gender‘.

We also know that women’s experiences of homelessness are typically shaped by gender-based violence.  As highlighted in the Centre for Homelessness Impact‘s 2021 report: Women, homelessness and violence: what works?, one in five women who have experienced violence end up homeless, compared to 1 in 100 who have no experience of violence.

Positively, the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 placed new statutory duties on local authorities to support victims of domestic abuse, including the requirement that all eligible homeless victims of domestic abuse are classed as ‘priority need’ for homelessness assistance.  Last month, the Government also announced an additional £125 million funding pot for councils across England to provide vital support services to help victims of domestic abuse rebuild their lives.

So, as housing providers committed to tackling homelessness, how can we as a sector best respond to the needs of homeless women who have been victims of violence?  Homes for Cathy explored the topic at a workshop last November, during which we heard from Dr Kesia Reeve from the Centre for Regional, Economic and Social Research (CRESR), an authority on the gendered nature of housing disadvantage. 

Housing-led interventions

Dr Reeve outlined the effectiveness of housing-led interventions, including rapid re-housing models for women, such as the Westminster VAWG (Violence Against Women and Girls) Housing First Project, where the housing element is provided by Homes for Cathy members Peabody and Women’s Pioneer Housing, amongst others.  Such models can offer a viable alternative to temporary accommodation, particularly if the support element provided is tailored to the needs of women who have experienced violence, for example support to address trauma or substance misuse or practical assistance around aspects of the legal system such as restraining orders and access to children. 

Another good example is North Star’s Hestia service, which provides settled self-contained accommodation, dispersed throughout the community, for vulnerable women, together with floating support to help tenants deal with a wide range of issues.  Properties provided through the Hestia service come with essential furniture, vital for women who may have fled their home with nothing.  Hestia’s USP is that once a tenant no longer requires support, they can remain in their home, with the property reverting to a general needs tenancy.

Preventative measures

Dr Reeve also stressed the importance of ‘upstream interventions’ – such as continued staff development – to prevent homelessness, as well as the importance of promoting an organisational culture that recognises the needs of women facing multiple disadvantage.  Training should be offered to all employees who come into contact with tenants, including repairs teams.  At Gentoo, repairs staff have a ‘Something Not Quite Right’ button on their handheld devices to document a cause for concern and trigger a follow up by the Neighbourhood Safety Team.  Other preventative upstream interventions include Sanctuary Schemes, whereby the perpetrator of violence is moved from a property and security measures are installed to keep the victim safe.

Gender-informed homelessness services

Where temporary accommodation is the only option, gender-informed services can make all the difference for women who have experienced violence.  According to Dr Reeve, gender-informed services need to be trauma-informed.  One example is Elim Housing Association, which is part of a gender-informed, strategically designed homelessness pathway commissioned by Bristol City Council, offering guaranteed single sex accommodation.  The formalised pathway means that information can be shared easily between providers, so women don’t have to go through the traumatic experience of retelling their story time and time again to different organisations.  It also allows for continuity of support workers, so that women are supported by the same person through the course of their journey through different providers.  The Mapping the Maze model is a good resource for providers seeking to understand how to make their services more trauma-informed.

As we mark both NO MORE Week and International Women’s Day – a focus for advancing gender equality – perhaps now is the time to consider whether your association is taking women’s needs into account in your policies, procedures and provision relating to homelessness.  Ask yourself the following questions:

  • Are your teams trained to recognise the signs and impact of domestic abuse and ask tenants the right questions? 
  • Could you install extra security measures in the properties of tenants who have experienced domestic violence?
  • Could you partner with a local authority to deliver a Housing First service tailored to women, single sex emergency accommodation or temporary supported accommodation?
  • Could properties be equipped with essential furniture and white goods for women fleeing violence? 
  • Are your existing homelessness services gender and trauma-informed so that women feel safe and have access to tailored support? 

Vicki McDonald is Homes for Cathy’s communications and marketing lead

Unlocking a more stable future for rough sleepers in your area

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Just over a year since the government announced the first tranche of Rough Sleeper Accommodation Programme (RSAP) funding allocations, over 5,700 move-on homes for rough sleepers have been delivered by councils and their partners across England. 

In that time, many Homes for Cathy member organisations have risen to RSAP challenge, working closely with their local authorities to co-produce move-on schemes and create the long-term capital assets that will contribute to local plans to end rough sleeping.  For many, it’s been a steep learning curve, complicated by the pandemic, a booming property market and rocketing building costs.

Fulfilling housing associations’ social purpose

However, it’s shown that where there’s a will, there’s a way; housing associations committed to their social purpose are playing a valuable part in solving the homelessness crisis.  What’s more, it’s clear that those organisations who already have strong relationship with local authorities – as set out in the Homes for Cathy commitments – have been able to act at speed to respond to local need.

With the recent announcement of RSAP bidding cycle five, now could be the last opportunity until 2025 for providers to deliver long-term move-on homes; the majority of the capital funding remaining is available for the financial year 2022/23, with only a small amount available in 2023/24.  Revenue funding – to provide the support element that is crucial to helping former rough sleepers re-build their lives – is also available for the financial years 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25.  Councils and their partners have until 13 April 2022 to submit their co-produced proposals and work must start on site by 31 March 2023, with completion required by the end of March 2024.

Tips for co-producing a move-on scheme

So, what do bidders need to take into account when considering co-producing a move-on scheme?  Here are our tips:

  • Focus on additional provision – DLUHC’s objective is to grow capacity in the sector, therefore no more than approximately 10 per cent of housing units will come from existing social housing stock currently in use or where historic grant has been invested.
  • Be creative – any route that can bring about a solution will be considered, from converting shops and commercial spaces to modern methods of construction (MMC) on brownfield sites.
  • Flexibility is welcome – dispersed, self-contained accommodation can offer the best outcomes but it’s recognised that, in high value property areas in particular, acquiring or building that type of property may not be viable, so shared accommodation is an option. 
  • Sustainability is key – for example, new build properties must have a minimum life expectancy of 60 years, ‘off the shelf’ dwellings that are acquired must a life expectancy of 30 years and longer leases will be prioritised.
  • Social investment is an option – for providers who would have difficulty accessing funding, social investment funds can offer a solution to purchasing properties at speed.
  • Help is on hand – the bidding process is just the start of an on-going relationship with Homes England; the team is available throughout the delivery period to help iron out any issues that providers may encounter along the way.

For more information, the full RSAP guidance is available here.

Vicki McDonald, Homes for Cathy Communications & Marketing Lead

Tackling migrant homelessness: A call for innovation and collaboration

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Ahead of 2021 International Migrants Day on 18 December, Katie Fawcett and Paul Catterill, Network Development Coordinators at NACCOM, explain how the network supports housing associations to collaborate on innovative projects to prevent destitution among people seeking asylum in the UK

The potential for housing associations to play an important role in helping to end homelessness experienced by people under immigration control has always been an area of interest and exploration for NACCOM and our members.  In February 2020, before the world was gripped by the Covid-19 pandemic, we jointly hosted the Ending Migrant Homelessness conference in York with Crisis and Homes for Cathy.

Addressing Homes for Cathy’s eighth commitment

This provided a springboard for the development of a number of new relationships between housing associations and NACCOM members, working together through a joint desire to address homelessness in the asylum and immigration system and in many cases specifically to address the Homes for Cathy Commitment 8 “to contribute to ending migrant homelessness in areas where housing associations operate”.

Over the past year, data gathered through NACCOM’s annual members’ survey has revealed that 2,771 people were accommodated across the NACCOM network between April 2020 and June 2021. 1,503 (54%) of people were housed (NACCOM projects include housing, hosting and night shelters) across 363 properties, 37 (10%) of which were provided by 21 housing associations across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, including seven from Homes for Cathy members.

Accommodation models vary

Accommodation models vary and include difficult to let properties (because of size and bedroom tax) being converted to HMOs and made available rent-free specifically for the housing of people with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF).  In addition, there are new supported housing initiatives where newly granted refugees at risk of homelessness are housed, with the income generated enabling beds to be made available to people seeking asylum with NRPF whilst they are supported to regularise their immigration status.

Covid-19 has obviously created challenges to the momentum of this work, however in 2021, several further opportunities presented themselves to continue our collective efforts of raising awareness around destitution and homelessness in the asylum system and exploring ways that housing associations can make a positive impact.

Firstly, Homes for Cathy joined Bradford-based NACCOM member Hope Housing in delivering a Homelessness Summit to discuss ‘what next after Everyone In ends’. This was followed by an Ending Destitution event in Calderdale, working with another NACCOM member St Augustine’s to promote and explore partnership approaches for developing NRPF accommodation in the borough.

NACCOM’s Network Development team also presented at the Homes for Cathy ‘Ending Migrant Homelessness’ forum in September, which brought together over 61 housing associations, charities and other agencies to hear about innovative ideas and responses to accommodation solutions for people with NRPF.

Our collective work will continue in 2022 and will be an important consideration when NACCOM launches its new strategy in spring next year. Further challenges presented by the Nationality and Borders Bill and ongoing Covid-19 crisis will undoubtedly require innovative and collaborative responses from the sector to end homelessness for people in the asylum and immigration system, and we look forward to being part of the response.

NACCOM – the No Accommodation Network – is a charity committed to bringing an end to destitution amongst people seeking asylum, refugees and migrants with no recourse to public funds living in the UK, through promoting best practice and supporting the establishment of accommodation projects.  For more information, email office@naccom.org.uk.