What's New in Social Housing?
Not the poor old Council Housing residents this time, but a group even more vulnerable.
Who are they?
People in Supported Housing, the elderly and the frail.
Supported housing providers are charging tenants top-up payments to plug the gaps in their budgets.(Inside Housing 6/5/05)
Housing associations operating in at least two councils are expecting residents to pay towards support services, placing the local authorities in breach of Supporting People funding rules. (Inside Housing 6/5/05)
So who suffers the most?
Those on Housing Benefits as it comes out of their benefits
Who should pay for support services where Councils have contracted the running of their Supported Housing to outside agencies such as Housing Associations?
The ODPM says the duty was on local authorities to meet the cost of supported housing services.
A spokesman for the ODPM went on to say that:
Supported housing providers shunting cost onto the housing benefit system are already facing a government crackdown. (Inside Housing 11 March).
Meanwhile ...
Several local authorities told Inside Housing that Hanover Housing (who also now run Hackney's supported housing), had told them it would have to start charging tenants if its funding demands are not met.
The association said it was not-charging at the moment but was considering the option. (Inside Housing 6/5/05
As I have said before, watch this space I will keep you informed.
Tony Osborne.
