How can we make the housing market more stable for vulnerable households? (5th March 2010)Two different perspectives on the kinds of reforms needed to provide long-term, secure housing for the people least able to afford it.
These Viewpoints were commissioned as part of the JRF Housing Market Taskforce programme, which aims to address the root causes of instability in the UK housing market. They are aimed at stimulating debate.
Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA), argues that the UK's 'obsession with home-ownership' creates social and economic divisions and instability, and we need a more balanced approach to different kinds of tenure. Philippa Stroud, co-founder and Executive Director of the Centre for Social Justice and formerly Director of the Conservative Party's Social Justice Policy Group, believes that life tenancies and the benefits system have combined to create social immobility, worklessness and dependency, and that social housing should be the first step on the ladder to home ownership.
Document
The development of social well-being in new extra care housing schemes (19th November 2009)Extra care schemes help older people remain independent. But they also aim to provide social opportunities that prevent residents feeling isolated.
This research, which examined how social well-being developed in 15 new-build housing schemes, revealed the following:
- Communal facilities and a diverse range of organised activities need to be available when schemes open as they help residents interact
- Residents involved in running social activities found it gave them ownership of their social lives, supported their independence and encouraged others to join in
- Adequate staff time and resources to support social activities are crucial at the start of a scheme but also over time as some residents become frailer
Report KeyRing: Living Support Networks (LSN) (18th November 2009)LSNs are networks of people who provide support to each other, aided by a volunteer who helps ensure network members realise their full potential and talents.
Care Services Efficiency Delivery's (CSED's) case study looks at three different schemes in separate locations and reviews the potential cost effective nature of LSNs. Each of the schemes helps network members to build their own skills with the support of a volunteer rather than being overly reliant on expensive professional staff and assisting access to universal services rather than costly specialist day services. As well as demonstrating average annual net savings of approximately £1,500 per person, the experience of those using the service underlines the successful nature of this approach.
Information
Case Study
An accommodation self assessment toolkit for the Socially Excluded Adults Public Service Agreement (2nd November 2009)This self assessment toolkit is designed to assist local housing authorities to deliver improved accommodation outcomes for the four client groups in PSA 16, in partnership with probation, children's services, adult social care, primary care trusts and other local partners including voluntary sector and registered social landlords.
It forms part of an authority's role in mainstream homelessness prevention, involving early intervention, support, advice and information. Although covered in much less detail, the toolkit also gives an opportunity to assess the associated commitment to deliver improved employment outcomes for the four groups.
The findings and recommendations in this report are those of the consultant authors and do not necessarily represent the views or proposed policies of Communities and Local Government.
Toolkit
Building Better Lives Case Studies (28th September 2009)The case studies to the Better Lives report, published on 9th September 2009 by the Audit Commission, are now available to download
Case Studies
Housing in England 2007-2008 (29th September 2009)This is the last report published under the Survey of English Housing. The survey was merged with the English House Condition Survey into the English Housing Survey in 2008. Headline findings from the EHS will be published early 2010.Report
Fifteen years of the Survey of English Housing: 1993-1994 to 2007-08 (29th September 2009)A short report presenting some initial outputs from the SEH15 dataset, a new dataset which combines key household level data from each of the fifteen annual SEH datasets from 1993-94 to 2007-08. Its purpose is to bring the dataset to the attention of the research community and to highlight the type of analysis that can be undertaken.ReportEnglish House Condition Survey - 2007 Annual Report (29th September 2009)The report presents detailed findings from the 2007 survey on the housing conditions and energy performance of the stock. The report included the following highlights:- The energy efficiency of the housing stock has steadily improved from 42 SAP points in 1996 to 50 in 2007.
- In 2007, 41 per cent of homes were in the more efficient Energy Efficient Rating Bands A-D compared with only 19 per cent of homes in 1996. The proportion of homes in the least energy efficient Bands F and G nearly halved over this period (from 36 per cent to 19 per cent).
- Social sector homes were more energy efficient with a SAP rating of 58 compared with 48 for the private sector and the rate of energy efficiency improvement since 1996 has been greater in the social sector.
Report
Building better lives (9th September 2009)Building better lives finds that councils feel pressured into focusing on building brand new housing - 94 per cent of councils have prioritised new and/or affordable housing targets through their local area agreements, but fewer than a third prioritised targets relating to their existing housing stock. This is despite the financial savings, environmental improvements and social benefits of doing so.
If councils thought of housing more broadly, they could do more to combat poverty, ill-health, educational under-achievement and help strengthen their local communities. The recession makes a strategic view of housing all the more important.
Report
Place Survey: England - Headline Results 2008 (Revised) (originally published 23rd June 2009, revised version published 7th September 2009)MRSA and C. Difficile continue to fall (10th September 2009)
Ground breaking - new ideas on housing delivery (7th July 2009)The double blow of the credit crunch and recession has hit the housing market hard and resulted in a severe reduction in the number of new homes being built. Given the current level of housing need, projected future demand for homes, and pressure on public finances, we could be feeling the impact of this slowdown for generations to come. Shelter, like many in the housing sector, believes that we must act now to reinvigorate housing delivery to ensure the continued supply of much needed new homes throughout the downturn and beyond.
Publication
Growing up in social housing in Britain: A profile of four generations from 1946 to the present day (18th June 2009)This study describes how housing for families has changed over time and explores the relationship between social housing, family circumstances and the 'adult outcomes' for children who grew up in social housing – i.e. their experiences when they are adults.
The report and summary from this study is published by the Tenant Services Authority and supported by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Report
Housing for disabled children and their families: an information resource (15th May 2009)An overview of information about housing for disabled children and their families, and ideas for improving their circumstances.
The purpose of the resource is to raise awareness of this important aspect of community care and to help non-specialists find out more about promoting positive change in this complex field.
The information resource contains:
- a summary of research evidence about the housing circumstances of disabled children and their families;
- an indication of the role of front-line workers in relation to housing for disabled children and their families;
- potential ways of improving housing, including moving house and adapting a family’s existing home;
- a summary of the relevant law in England;
- a series of case studies to help consolidate and expand knowledge of some of the issues involved; and
- guidance on running workshops to provide information to interested practitioners and families.
Report What makes my family stronger (20th May 2009)This report, from Contact a Family (Every Disabled Child Matters partner organisation), states that families with disabled children in the UK feel stigmatised and shut out from society. Key findings from the report include:
- Almost 70% of families with disabled children said that understanding and accpetance of disability from their community or society is poor or unsatisfactory
- Over 60% of families said they don't feel listened to by professionals
- Vital support services such as short breaks; a key worker; and childcare are unavailable to almost half of families
- Over 60% of families said they don't feel valued by society in their role as carers
- Half of families with disabled children said the opportunity to enjoy play and leisure together is poor or unsatisfactory.
Report
The impacts of housing stock transfers in urban Britain (27th February 2009)This research looks at the transfer of housing stock from councils to specially established housing associations, concentrating on the ‘second generation’ of transfers carried out since 1997.
Focusing mainly on ten case study transfers in urban areas, the study considers how successful these transfers have been, and examines:
- the nature of ‘transfer promises’ (commitments to channel fresh investment into housing repair and modernisation) and how far these have been met;
- the impact of transfer on organisational culture, governance and service delivery; and
- the contribution of transfer to wider regeneration and social inclusion.
Summary
Delivering Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods - A National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society (23rd December 2008)
Costs and outcomes of an extra-care housing scheme in Bradford (17th November 2008)The aim of this study was to assess as accurately as possible the comparative cost before and after residents moved to a new extra-care housing scheme in Bradford. The importance of extra-care housing in the current policy context is illustrated by the level of financial investment. Each year since 2003 the Department of Health has provided capital funding to support its development. However, there is a lack of evidence about the potential, the costs and benefits, and consequently the cost-effectiveness, of extra-care housing.
Report
FindingsHousing choices and issues for young people in the UK (18th November 2008)This review has been written ahead of the forthcoming Housing Reform Green Paper, which will include a focus on the improved provision of housing services and options for young people. The review provides a context for considering the changing nature of young people’s housing transitions in recent decades and highlights some of the most pressing housing-related issues facing young people in the UK today.
Report
FindingsEnglish House Condition Survey – 2006 Annual Report (25th November 2008)The English House Condition Survey (EHCS) is a long-standing survey reporting every five years since 1971 to 2001 and annually since 2003. It monitors the condition and energy performance of housing in England. The report was based on a random achieved sample of 16,670 dwellings comprising a detailed non-intrusive physical inspection of the dwelling (including an assessment to its environment), and an interview with the householder.
Report
Making a difference: supported lodgings as a housing option for young people (1st October 2008)
Local authorities and their partners are making considerable inroads into the task of meeting the Government's target of eliminating the use of bed and breakfast accommodation for 16 and 17 year olds, except in an emergency and then for no more than six weeks. By 30 June 2008 the number staying in bed and breakfast had fallen from approximately 1,000 in September 2006 to 420, 160 of whom had been placed for more than six weeks. Supported lodgings services have played an important role in this in some areas, and Communities and Local Government has supported a number of new services in 2007-08. The aim of this guide is to inform and support local authorities' planning and commissioning of supported lodgings within the context of strategies to tackle youth homelessness. It is based on a review of supported lodgings services in 17 local authority areas in England, and of data collected through the Supporting People programme.
Guide
Housing in England 2006/07: A report based on the 2006/07 Survey of English Housing (18th September 2008)
This report is based on information from the 17,849 households interviewed for the Survey of English Housing (SEH) in the year beginning April 2006. It also contains some analysis of housing-related data from the Labour Force Survey and the Family Resources Survey.
Report
In brief: The need for a common language to describe older people’s housing (26th September 2008)
A discussion paper from phase one of the Towards a Common Currency project noted that elderly people are often confused by the definitions and descriptions used to describe housing and other support. In this part of the project researchers discovered that most social housing landlords did not give sufficiently detailed descriptions of housing developments or schemes to elderly people or those acting on their behalf.
Brief
Report
In brief: The housing, care and support needs of South Asian elders (24th September 2008)
This research project looks at some of the practical challenges that South Asian elders face in meeting their housing and support needs. The project also captures some of the positive work being done by voluntary and community organisations, local authorities and housing associations on their behalf. This Innovation and Good Practice report for the Housing Corporation makes recommendations for policy makers and providers for the long term benefits of all concerned.
Brief
Report
Government response to the Communities and Local Government Committee’s report: The Supply of Rented Housing (18th September 2008)
This report contains the Government responses to 66 recommendations made by the CLG Select Committee in areas of housing covering: the experience of tenants; the social rented sector; the private rented sector, and housing providers.
Report
Developing and sustaining mixed tenure housing developments (25th September 2008)
This Round-up evaluates the strategic and policy context for housing development and neighbourhood renewal. The authors argue that integrating different housing tenures is an important prerequisite for developing ‘housing of choice’, but that there are many other aspects of sustainable communities which need to be given equal weight.
Document
In brief: The link between housing and drug treatment outcomes (29th August 2008)
In 2004 the Audit Commission pointed out an over-emphasis on treating drug addiction and a lack of emphasis on providing the support necessary to bring order to chaotic lives. The connection between drug misuse and homelessness is a strong one but despite this, agencies and commissioners who support homeless drug users often work in isolation from each other. The Clean Break project focused on how housing and drug treatment services can work together more effectively and makes recommendations for future improvements.
In brief
Clean Break Final Report
Housing aspirations and shared ownership (29th August 2008)
Shared ownership allows a household to buy a share of their home (typically between 25% and 75%) and pay an affordable, but not social/regulated, rent on the remainder (usually to a housing association). In this paper, shared ownership is considered as distinct from schemes such as Open Market HomeBuy, which involves an equity loan, and from the right to buy, which involves an outright purchase but at a discount.
Paper
Social Housing and Worklessness: Qualitative Research Findings (26th August 2008)
In his recent review of the future role of the social rented housing sector, John Hills (2007) observed that levels of worklessness within the social rented sector are disproportionately high, even when taking into account the relatively high levels of disadvantage apparent among the tenant base. This report presents the key findings to emerge from a study commissioned by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) that set out to explain the relatively high levels of worklessness apparent within the social rented sector.
Report
Housing Association Inspection Report - Halton Housing Trust Limited (31st July 2008)
Halton Housing Trust provides a fair service with promising prospects for improvement. Some services have improved from a low point at transfer but improvement is needed in areas.
Click here for the Report
Moving into affordable housing (7th August 2008)
The profile of those moving into social housing is dependent on two inter-related factors. First, on who applies for social housing, and secondly on the lettings schemes which, in most parts of the country, prioritise those in greatest housing need. This paper is mainly concerned with the first factor - who applies for social housing, and why some households apply and others do not. The final part of the paper examines in more detail the profile of those actually moving into the sector.
Click here for the Paper
Commissioning housing support for health and wellbeing (25th July 2008)
This publication has been commissioned by the Integrated Care Network (ICN) at the Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP), together with Communities and Local Government and the Department of Health (DH). It builds on the recent guide from the ICN, A Practical Guide to Integrated Working, which is recommended as a companion to this publication. This report contains: Explanations of what housing-related services are and what funding streams and national programmes they sit within; Evidence that these services can offer cost-effective mechanisms for promoting health, independence and wellbeing; while reducing demand for costly services.
Commissioning housing support for health and wellbeing
A Practical Guide to Integrated Working
Housing market recessions and sustainable home-ownership (16th July 2008)
This round-up considers how the government might respond to housing market recessions in the short term, and what longer-term measures it might take to promote sustainability through the housing market cycle. The authors ask what lessons can be learned from past experiences that could inform the current period of instability.
Click here for the Publication
Mobility and Social Housing (2nd July 2008)
This third paper in the Planning for the Future series looks at mobility and social housing – who moves between houses within the sector, who moves out of social housing completely, and what the different motives of each group are. As the first paper in the series pointed out, mobility within social housing and moves to other tenures are not as significant as they are for other sectors. While from a housing management viewpoint such stability has advantages, it also carries a warning: social tenants might not be as mobile as they need to be if they are to improve their economic circumstances and get jobs (or get better jobs).
Click here for the Paper
National Housing and Planning Advice Unit Research Findings Number Two: Impact of worsening affordability on demand for social and affordable housing - tenure choice and household formation (2nd July 2008)
This paper examines how the worsening affordability of owner occupation affects tenure choice and the ability of households to form.
Click here for the Paper
