In response to the Department for Work and Pensions announcement on the long-term funding of supported housing, Alastair Graham, Director of Golden Lane Housing says:
“While we welcome the Government’s exemption of supported housing from the cap on Local Housing Allowance (LHA) until 2019/20 we have deep concerns about the proposals of the future funding model.
Providing a home to meet the needs of people with a learning disability generally costs much more than LHA rates and it’s unclear how the funding through a localised pot will work in practice. We fear there is a real risk of it adding to the growing housing crisis if the demand is not met.
There are challenging times ahead. Using our private sector leasing approach, Great Tenants, we will continue to work with commissioners to provide housing for people with a learning disability. With the final properties currently being bought using bond capital more people are moving into specially adapted homes.
The Government will be seeking views through consultation. We are going to urgently ask them to reconsider their proposal as this undermines the right for people with a learning disability to have their reasonable housing needs met.”
