Starts at Home: Save our Supported Housing

Since 2016, the National Housing Federation's "Starts at Home" campaign has celebrated and highlighted the positive impact of supported housing on communities across the country. 

Supported housing helps thousands of people across England who need help to live independently and live well at home. But after years of funding cuts, the NHF reports that many of these vital homes are at risk of closure. This year, they're calling for the government to #SaveOurSupportedHousing.

Without a stable foundation, many people who need support to live independently will face an uncertain future. The research shows that without supported housing, NHS hospital beds would face 110,000 more days of delayed discharge, and 41,000 more people would face homelessness.

This Starts at Home Day is an opportunity to tell the government and decision makers about the crisis, and what we need to do to fix it. In our recent podcast Investing in Supported Housing we explore this theme and highlight the benefits not only to the individuals but the broader societal benefits from public sector costs and enhanced communities. 

At Stonewater, we provide around 3500 supported homes; of these we offer accommodation for:

• Older or retirement age people
• Young people
• People with mental health needs
• Survivors of domestic abuse and discrimination
• People with physical and learning disabilities

For these customers its not just about a roof over their heads but also providing the support services and the wider assistance that help people to not only live independently but thrive.