Adults Supported Housing Market Position Statement August 2024

The government defines supported housing as accommodation provided alongside support, supervision or care to help people live as independently as possible in the community. Individuals using supported housing include: 

• older people 
• people with a learning disability 
• people with a physical disability 
• autistic people 
• individuals and families at risk of or who have experienced homelessness 
• people recovering from drug or alcohol dependence 
• people with experience of the criminal justice system 
• young people with a support need  
• people with mental ill health 
• people fleeing domestic abuse and their children 

Supported housing provides a vital service for the most vulnerable people in society. Within Stockton on-Tees, supported housing is accommodation provided by a range of providers including registered providers, as well as charities and voluntary organisations that offers a level of support to tenants which is over and above that which would normally be provided by a good landlord. 

There are three types of supported housing, though there can be a crossover between them.  

These are: 

• sheltered and extra care provision, for older people who may benefit from living in purpose-designed accommodation or those with care or support needs 
• short-term or transitional provision for those in crisis because of, for example, domestic abuse or homelessness 
• long-term provision for those with long-term physical or mental health conditions and learning disabilities

Supported housing schemes can vary significantly in size and scale from large extra care type accommodation to smaller individual units of accommodation. Supported housing schemes that fall into the category of specified accommodation (also known as specified supported housing) fall under the Housing Benefit system, rather than Universal Credit. Housing Benefit recognises the higher costs of providing such accommodation and should regulations be satisfied providers will be exempt from the local housing allowance rate.

A PDF copy of the Adults Supported Housing Market Position Statement can be requested by emailing strategichousing@stockton.gov.uk.