Specialist and Supported Housing Needs Assessment

1. This is a report of research undertaken by the Housing Learning and Improvement Network (LIN)^[1] based on a brief from Gateshead Council (GC) to undertake a Specialist and Supported Housing Needs Assessment.
2. GC has commissioned the Housing LIN to undertake an assessment the future need, over the next 10 to 20 years, for specialist and supported housing and accommodation.
3. The scope of this specialist housing and supported housing needs assessment includes:

• Older people (55+ years).
• Adults with a learning disability/on the autistic spectrum, including young people 'transitioning' to adult services.
• Adults with mental health needs.
• Adults with physical disabilities/long term conditions.
• Individuals at risk of or recovering from homelessness, including:
  • Single homeless individuals, including offenders/ex-offenders, people recovering from drug/alcohol dependency, and people with multiple/complex needs.
  • Vulnerable people subject to or fleeing domestic abuse.
  • Vulnerable young people (such as care leavers).
  • Refugees, including unaccompanied older children/asylum seeking children.
  • Adults who have served in the armed forces.

    4. Work undertaken by consultancy Campbell Tickell in relation to the 'cohorts' above at risk of or recovering from homelessness has been reviewed and used as appropriate to identify need for specialist and supported housing.

    5. Whilst the assessment is shown in relati6.on to 'client cohorts', it is recognised that people's needs are often complex and that innovative approaches to housing and support that go beyond these 'cohort' definitions will be required and indeed desirable:

• An assumption that mainstream housing suitably designed and/or adapted will be appropriate for many people with care and/or support needs.
• Opportunities for inter-generational living will form part of the required housing solutions.
• Housing solutions may be multi-functional, for example, providing a mix of mainstream housing, supported housing and potentially other facilities.
• All housing and supported accommodation for people with care and/or support needs should assist and facilitate inclusion in community life.

    6. GC wishes to use this evidence base to inform its supported housing strategy and its other housing, planning, social care, investment and delivery plans. The council's objective is to support people with care/support needs to live independently in their homes through having a range of specialist and supported housing options available which enables this to happen.

Approach and method

1. This specialist and supported housing need assessment covers a range of housing and accommodation types for all ages and needs including specialist housing for older people (for example, retirement housing for sale, 'sheltered housing' and extra care housing), residential and nursing care, supported housing, accessible housing and Shared Lives. Where appropriate estimates of housing need are indicated for different tenure types.
2. Where the size of the relevant cohort populations permits, estimates of future housing and supported housing need are shown at Gateshead level and by locations within the borough (Central, West, East, South and Inner West).
3. Qualitative evidence from a sample of local citizens, voluntary and community organisations, housing providers and Council Officers has been used to inform estimates of housing and supported housing need.
4. A range of national and local quantitative evidence, as well as evidence from local policies has been used to inform estimates of need for specialist and supported housing including:

• National and local health, social care and housing data sets
• Current population data for the relevant cohorts
• ONS Census data and other ONS demographic data as relevant
• Gateshead Joint Strategic Needs Assessment
• Gateshead Social Care Market Position Statement
• Gateshead Health and Wellbeing Strategy
• Gateshead Housing Strategy
• Gateshead Specialist and Supported Supplementary Planning Document
• The Council's Our Statutory Homelessness Review
• Gateshead Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy