The supported housing sector is in dire need of your investment and participation as property investors

By entering this market, you can play a pivotal role in providing quality, supportive homes for some of the most vulnerable members of society. Your investment can make a tangible difference in improving the lives of those in need while contributing to the overall growth and sustainability of the supported housing sector.

At Supported Living Gateway, our mission is to connect as many property investors and care providers together to create more homes for those who need them.

This type of accommodation provides vital support, supervision, and care to vulnerable individuals, enabling them to live as independently as possible within their communities. The residents typically include people at risk of or experiencing homelessness, those with learning or physical disabilities, and individuals recovering from substance abuse disorders – often with complex and multiple needs.

The responsibilities for supported housing are distributed across various government departments and local authorities:

• The Department for Work and Pensions handles Housing Benefit claims and policies;
• The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities oversees the supply and quality of supported housing facilities;
• The Department of Health and Social Care develops policies aimed at promoting independent and healthy living in people's own homes;
• Local authorities, on the other hand, manage Housing Benefit claims and inspect supported housing.

Alarmingly, many vulnerable individuals are failed by unscrupulous providers who rent out substandard housing with inadequate support services. The Affordable Homes Programme was established to address this issue and increase the availability of supported housing. However, according to the latest data from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, the program is only forecast to deliver 5% supported housing against its initial target of 10% for the 2021–26 iteration. This stark reality underscores the pressing need for conscientious private landlords to enter the sector and bridge the gap.

The conclusions of a recent report from Public Accounts Committe of the House of Commons are sobering. Demand for supported housing outstrips supply, leaving vulnerable people without the homes or support they desperately need.

Both the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities acknowledge this supply shortage and are working to improve data collection in the sector to better understand and resolve the issues.

Additionally, research by the Personal Social Services Research Unit at the London School of Economics has assessed the impact of projected demographic changes on demand for supported housing. Their findings estimate that between 2015 and 2030, demand will surge substantially for older people (by 36%) and working-age people with learning disabilities (by 55%). This staggering increase in demand, compounded by the already existing disparity between supply and demand, highlights the urgent need for properties from the private sector.

You can find the full report here Supported housing (parliament.uk)