Specialist and Supported Housing Strategy 2023 to 2033

The provision of good-quality specialist supported and accessible homes is a part of creating a place where people can live well and thrive in Gateshead. Our vision is to secure the best quality of life we can for older people and people with support needs both now and in the future. This means delivering a range of specialist, supported and accessible homes that enable people to live independently, with support and care where necessary.

We will deliver our ambitions through:

• developing a range of new build specialist, supported and accessible homes over the next 10 years and beyond, that is tailored to reflect the identified needs within our local communities
• ensuring that support and care services, delivered by registered providers and other organisations, to people within supported housing as well as those living in mainstream housing, are effective in promoting people's wellbeing and independence

Our ambition is to develop an extensive range of specialist and supported housing options, to cater for the wide-ranging needs of people in Gateshead.

This vision means that through this strategy we will commission and enable a wide range of specialist and supported housing that enables adults and young people to live independently in their communities, including:

• an increase in housing suited to older citizens, including access to support and assistance to remain living in their own homes and access to a wider range of high-quality specialist accommodation that is suited to ageing well in later life
• reducing homelessness through the provision of high-quality supported accommodation and 'move on' housing opportunities 
• range of supported housing and move-on accommodation options for young people
• safe accommodation for people experiencing domestic abuse
• the provision of a mix of supported housing options for people with learning disabilities and autistic people and people with mental-health needs
• the development of additional accessible and adapted homes that are suited to adults and children with physical disabilities and long-term health conditions
• making effective use of technology to secure effective support and independent living

The purpose of this strategy and the background work that has been undertaken, is in recognition of the council's need to understand its supported and specialist housing requirements and to ensure that there is a sufficiency of appropriate and good-quality supported housing to meet the needs of the growing numbers of older people, people with disabilities and people with support needs in Gateshead.