Housing with care and support development programme
At the end of 2019, there were about 700 properties classed as 'supported tenancies' across Lancashire. Approximately 160 of those carried one or more vacancies (approx 225 in total according to 2019 figures).
Vacant tenancies place a financial strain on the remaining tenants and sometimes on the housing and support provider, and on the resources of the county council.
The number of vacancies in supported housing looks set to rise as:
- some households will not meet the needs of an ageing population
- tenants will pass away as they age
- new tenants will move in but do not want to be there
- some tenants will move out
As alternative options are developed some tenants will choose to move on to alternative solutions, leaving former co-tenants behind.
Strenuous efforts continue to be made to find suitable people to fill these vacancies. However, many have been vacant for a considerable length of time with no realistic hope of ever filling the vacancy.
Our Maximising Occupancy in Supported Housing Policy (pdf) shows how we review supported housing, and decommission schemes that are no longer viable to minimise under occupancy and use public resources more effectively.
Our Housing with care and support strategy (pdf) outlines how we will work with partners to develop innovative Housing with Care and Support options. This will give more people a choice about where they live and receive care and support, and how they are supported to live independently and have a better quality of life.