SCIE calls on the new Government to prioritise supported housing on Starts at Home Day

Embracing this vision means committing to a future where supported housing options play a key role in fostering vibrant, supportive communities that enable individuals to thrive. By aligning our efforts with this vision, we can ensure that housing, health, social care and communities work together to ensure housing and support options that fully support wellbeing.

This was instrumental in guiding the SCIE-led commission, The Role of Housing in the Future of Care and Support. Funded by the Dunhill Medical Trust, the commission set out a vision and a roadmap to enhance the availability and quality of housing with care and support options for older people.

In line with the commission recommendations, SCIE is calling for two key actions:

1. The establishment of a long-term plan for housing that ensures everyone can live as independently as possible, for as long as possible, in homes that meet their needs. This plan should also provide appropriate, affordable options for individuals moving on from supported housing.
2. Local authorities and integrated care boards need support in planning, funding, and commissioning supported housing, ensuring it is part of a strategic plan to address housing needs. This includes comprehensive data collection and a recommitment to the £300m Housing Transformation Fund. Every decision about care should incorporate housing considerations.

We recognise that understanding local population needs now and in the future and creating a comprehensive, co-produced plan for housing options is not simple and requires joint working across departments and sectors. We also know there are some great examples where this has been achieved and where more housing options are being developed.

We recently published a toolkit to support local areas in creating effective place-based plans that include a full range of housing options for older adults. As we pilot this toolkit and engage with various local authorities, it is clear that collaboration across health, housing, social care, and community sectors is essential for planning and delivering a diverse array of housing solutions – but it will not be achieved across the country without Government action and support.

To find out how you can get involved in Starts at Home Day visit the website.