The government has issued consultation on the detail of a new funding
model for supported accommodation.
ARCH members were previously advised of
the announcement by government in September 2016 to ensure a
sustainable future for the sector, along with a commitment to
consult on the details.
From 2019/20 a new funding model for supported housing will be
introduced, which the government say will ensure that the sector
continues to be funded at current levels, taking in to account the
effect of the government policy on social sector rents.
Supported housing, which supports some of the most vulnerable
people from across the country, will continue to be exempt from the
Local Housing Allowance (LHA) cap until 2019. From then the new
funding model will protect the sector from the cap with a top-up of
additional ring-fenced funding.
This will mean Housing Benefit and the housing element of
Universal Credit will focus on paying for core housing costs,
whilst the new ring-fenced pot of money will give local authorities
greater flexibility to commission services in line with local
needs.
The application of the LHA policy for general needs
accommodation will also now be aligned with the timing of these
plans, so will now be introduced in 2019 instead of 2018.
The consultation period runs for 12 weeks, and will also seek
views on how best to fund the provision of short-term housing, such
as hostels, refuges and emergency accommodation.
The deadline for responses is 13 February 2017. ARCH will be
responding to the consultation paper and we would welcome members'
views and comments to inform our response. Please feed in your
comments to Matthew.Warburton@arch-housing
by 31 January 2016.