As experts in homelessness, supported housing and the private rented sector, we have helped to develop strategic responses for a number of Local Authorities, ranging from small Unitary Councils, through London and Metropolitan Boroughs to large Shire Counties. We have also provided extensive policy advice to safeagent, an accreditation and representative body for Private Rented Sector lettings & management agents.
Projects in progress or completed include:
safeagent 2020 to 2024 – policy advice to this organisation has embraced the wide ranging changes facing the Private Rented Sector (PRS) Issues include the likely impact of the Renters Reform Bill, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Good Landlords Charter, the latest Welsh Government Housing Green Paper, the recently published findings of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the Tenant Fees Ban, mandatory Client Money Protection and Selective/Additional Licensing. In August 2020, we helped to formulate safeagent’s submission to the housing minister, suggesting system-wide reforms aimed at protecting tenants, landlords, agents and lenders post COVID 19
London Borough of Hackney 2019/20 – we co-authored the Homelessness Strategy for this local authority, consulting and involving a wide range of stakeholders as part of the process
Mid Nottinghamshire 2019 and 2020 – we co-authored the Homelessness Review and three separate Homelessness Strategies for a group of District Councils, consulting and involving the County Council a wide range of strategic partners. A priority here was ensuring that services are delivered effectively and safely, across a complex multi- stakeholder system. In 2020, we are working with Homeless Link to carry out a Survey of Support Needs covering all residents in Supported and Temporary accommodation
Northern Ireland Housing Executive – we carried out a major review of the executive’s business processes for their Supporting People funding programme (circa £65m per annum) This led to a comprehensive set of recommendations and a full report
The Financial Benefits of the Supporting People Programme in Northern Ireland – we carried out the research and authored the report for this study carried out for The Centre for Economic Empowerment. The launch of the report was hosted by the Lord Mayor of Belfast at Belfast City Hall
Prevention & Personalisation – working with Sitra, we produced a major business case for Housing Related Support across Yorkshire & Humber, utilising service user case studies, stakeholder interviews and cost/benefit analysis
The Right to Control – this was a major personalisation initiative, across eight local authority “trailblazer” sites, led by the Office for Disability Issues
Tenant Services Authority (Homelessness Action Team – HAT) – we carried out an interim review of Area Housing Plans, a major pilot led by the HAT, designed to create an infrastructure for holistic, area-based approaches to tackling homelessness;
The Costs and Benefits of Housing Related Support – in partnership with Sitra, we conducted a major study for Bath & North East Somerset Council, looking at the strategic contribution of Supporting People services in the context of wider Health & Well Being partnerships
London Borough of Tower Hamlets – Substance Misuse in Hostels and Young People’s Projects – we led a team of consultants looking at the nature and extent of substance mis-use in Supporting People funded services. As well as quantifying the problem, the research had a considerable qualitative dimension, aimed at collating good practice and making recommendations for systems transformation
Dorset County Council – Supporting People Strategy Development and Follow Up – we produced the initial action plan for production of the first Five-year strategy and, at the same time, specified a Needs Mapping exercise for separate tender. After taking these to the Commissioning Body for approval, we took on project management of the needs mapping research and the job of actually producing the strategy itself. We also advised Dorset on risk management and carried out some focus groups with service users. We also facilitated a half-day session for the Commissioning Body, the Core Strategy Group, Providers and stakeholders, looking at progress against the Five Year Strategy and expenditure targets
Supporting People Distribution Formula (SPDF) – we advised The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, the London Boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham and Hackney and Bury MBC on the implications of the SPDF for their Supporting People grant
Eastleigh Borough Council – Homelessness Strategy – we carried out a review and prepared a strategy for Eastleigh under the terms of the relevant Homelessness legislation;
Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea – we addressed the Borough’s Provider Forum on the topic of “ Supporting People Five-Year Strategies – Why Bother?” We also advised the Borough on Risk Management and Options Appraisal, “health-checked” the strategy and wrote the executive summary. Lastly, we were heavily involved in needs identification for and refreshment of the Supporting People strategy.