Specialist and Supported Housing Needs Assessment

Table 34 below shows projected net need for different types of specialist and supported housing for the client cohorts covered by this needs assessment.

Table 34 identifies estimated:

• current unmet need at 2023 (homes)
• need by 2025 (homes)
• need by 2030 (homes)
• need by 2035 (homes)
• need by 2040 (homes)

In relation to the need for different tenure options, for most cohorts this is a need for affordable rented supported housing (although it is recognised that supported housing rents are typically higher, sometimes considerably higher, than general needs housing for affordable rent); where a need for other tenure types is identified, for example, for sale/shared ownership, this is specifically highlighted in table 34.

The previous sections of this need assessment set out where it is possible for identified need for specialist and supported housing to be disaggregated by locality, specifically for specialist housing for older people and accessible housing for people with physical disabilities. The population sizes of the other cohorts are typically smaller making disaggregation by locality less feasible and meaningful.

Whilst the assessment is shown in relation 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.
• This is consistent with current national policy (for example, from the Social Care White Paper) which places a stronger emphasis on the role of preventative approaches, including the role of housing, such as approaches to supporting people to remain living in their own homes, in both mainstream housing and supported housing, including the use of home adaptations and digital technology to support and promote the independence of older people and other people with care/support needs.

Table 34. Specialist and supported housing need for Gateshead (number of homes).

Estimated need for specialist housing and accommodation: Older people

Housing for older people (retirement housing for sale and for social/affordable rent). The estimated housing for older people net need to 2040 is approximately 670 homes of which approximately 270 homes are estimated to be required for social/affordable rent and approximately 400 are estimated to be required for shared ownership/sale. Based on the qualitative evidence about older people's housing preferences (paragraph 2.62) it is assumed that potentially up to 50% of this estimated need could be met through the provision of mainstream housing that is designed for and accessible to older people even if it is not technically 'designated' for older people, for example housing that is 'care ready' and suited to ageing as distinct from 'retirement housing'. This may include mainstream housing to accessible and adaptable standards M4(2) and M4(3).

Housing with care (extra care housing). The estimated housing with care net need to 2040 is approximately 435 homes of which approximately 305 homes are estimated to be required for social / affordable rent and approximately 130 homes are estimated to be required for shared ownership/sale. This will meet the housing and care needs of older people who are self-funders as well as older people who need rented accommodation and are eligible for social care funded by the council. This need could be met in part through mixed tenure development of extra care housing.

Residential care and nursing care. The estimated residential care net need is not anticipated to increase significantly over the period to 2040. It is likely that residential care bed capacity will need to be increasingly focussed on older people with more complex social care needs, such as people living with dementia. The estimated nursing care net need to 2040 is approximately 230 bedspaces. It is likely that nursing care bed capacity will need to be increasingly focussed on older people with more complex health and social care needs, including people living with dementia. This is aligned with the council's integrated residential/nursing care delivery model.

Estimated need for supported accommodation: Adults with learning disability/autistic people

In summary, an additional approximately 90 units of supported accommodation are estimated to be needed by 2030 for people with a learning disability/autistic people and an additional approximately 215 units by 2040.

Of these additional approximately 215 units, approximately 25 units are estimated to be for Shared Lives accommodation and approximately 190 units are estimated to be for supported housing.

There is mostly a need for self-contained accommodation but shared supported housing does have a role in some cases, but it needs to be clear it is not typically a permanent housing solution.

Some existing shared housing needs to be reviewed and its future use considered, particularly where there are voids.

There is a need for an increased range of tenure choices; some of the identified need for supported housing could potentially be met through, for example, home ownership through the Home Ownership for people with Long term Disabilities scheme (opens new window).

People with learning disabilities need to be able to better access mainstream general needs housing within the wider community. This can be a realistic option for people where floating support or individualised care/support packages are provided.

Shared Lives options need to be increased as a complementary housing offer alongside supported housing or individuals accessing mainstream housing.

Estimated need for supported housing: Adults with significant mental health needs

There is an estimated net need for approximately 30 units of additional supported housing for people with significant mental health needs by 2030 and approximately 65 units of additional supported housing by 2040.

There is a need to develop an accommodation 'pathway' for people with significant mental health needs (who are in contact with/supported by specialist mental health services). This includes having the following mix of housing and types of supported accommodation.

Reduced reliance on residential care to accommodate people and an increased need for a range of alternative housing options. It is assumed that the number of people living in care home beds will decrease by approximately 50% by 2040. It is assumed that in future people who may have used residential/nursing care will use supported housing with 24/7 support as an alternative.

There is a need for a small number (approximately five to 10 units) of specialist supported housing units for people with complex mental health needs, including 24/7 support, which can also provide 'step down' accommodation for people being discharged from inpatient settings.

There is a need for additional small 'clusters' of self-contained supported housing (similar to the recent scheme developed in Gateshead) that provides short term supported housing, both for people who no longer need 24/7 supported housing and people who need a supportive environment before moving to independent housing.

There is a need for people with significant mental health needs to have better access to mainstream general needs accommodation and to be supported with floating support to enable people to live within the community. This could include expanding the KeyRing Scheme; this would enable people to live in mainstream accommodation with support.

Estimated need for accessible housing: Adults with physical disabilities

In summary, by 2040, it is estimated that there will be approximately 675 wheelchair users with an unmet need for accessible housing, of which:

• It is estimated that approximately 255 wheelchair users require fully wheelchair adapted homes, for example, similar to Part M(4) Category 3 broadly equivalent to the Wheelchair Housing Design standard.
• This is the equivalent of a need for approximately 15 fully wheelchair-adapted homes required per year to 2040 for the all-age population.
• Among the working-age population, this is the equivalent of a need for approximately six fully wheelchair-adapted homes required per year to 2040.
• It is estimated that approximately 420 wheelchair users require accessible and adaptable homes (for example, not fully wheelchair adapted dwellings), similar to Part M(4) Category 2, broadly equivalent to the Lifetime Homes standard.
• This is the equivalent of a need for approximately 25 accessible and adaptable homes required per year to 2040, for the all-age population.
• For the working age population, this is the equivalent of a need for approximately 10 accessible and adaptable homes required per year to 2040.

This indicates that there is an ongoing need for housing adapted to both M4(2) and M4(3) standards which is addressed through the current approach of the council which has an ongoing planning policy for 25% of homes on new housing developments over 15 dwellings to be built to M4(2) standards.

Supported housing for people at risk of or recovering from homelessness

Domestic abuse

Campbell Tickell identifies that:

• Allowing for turnover based on the length of stay an additional 61 units of safe accommodation is required.
• Although there is a substantial quantity of floating support available, and specialist domestic abuse support, the demand analysis found that there remains a shortfall of floating support 20 to 35 units.

Based on analysis of Campbell Tickell's proposals, taking account of existing supported accommodation, it is considered that 26 units of additional supported housing are required (2023).

Homelessness and multiple complex needs

Campbell Tickell identifies that 20 units of Housing First and potentially 95 units of supported housing are estimated to be required for this pathway. Some of the supported accommodation needs to be provided for more than 12 months and some individuals will need intensive housing floating support when they move on.

Based on analysis of Campbell Tickell's proposals, taking account of existing supported accommodation, it is considered that 35 units of additional supported housing are required (2023).

Young People

Campbell Tickell's assessment is that there is an outstanding need for 76 bedspaces (plus taster flats) per year across a range of settings, and five additional units funded by Children's Services for 16/17-year-old looked after children.

It is proposed that this need is reflected in a requirement for 81 bedspaces per year, split into a mix of high, medium and low settings for support.

Based on analysis of Campbell Tickell's proposals, taking account of existing supported accommodation, it is considered that 38 units of additional supported accommodation are required (2023).

Other identified needs for supported, accessible and other types of housing

People who have served in HM armed forces/adult former asylum seekers

Gateshead Council's Homelessness Review (2021) identified that there were 1,283 households with one or more support needs who were owed a homelessness duty during 2019 to 2020 and 794 households who did not have any support needs, or their support needs were unknown. This indicates that approximately 62% of those who were owed a duty had support needs.

A minority of these households were identified as having support needs linked to 'served in HM armed forces' and 'former asylum seeker'.

In 2021 to 2022 the evidence regarding these cohorts in relation to households owed a homelessness duty by support needs was:

• Former asylum seeker: 71 households
• People who have served in HM armed forces: 17 households.

Note that Gateshead Council do not accommodate asylum seekers; these people are accommodated through a separate contact between the Home Office and Mears.

There is no recognised model for estimating the supported housing needs of these cohorts. It is assumed that the majority of these households' primary need is for mainstream housing with their support needs addressed, where appropriate, through floating support for housing related needs and/or other interventions. There is evidence that some single adult former asylum seekers need to access supported housing.

If it is assumed that approximately 10% to 20% of these cohorts required supported housing before a move to independent housing this would suggest a need for supported housing of approximately 10 to approximately 18 units per annum. It is assumed that these needs could be met through existing supported housing provision for people who are or have experienced homelessness or through the planned commissioning of additional supported housing capacity for people who have experienced homelessness.

This suggests that there is no net additional need for supported housing for these cohorts but that existing or new supported housing services need to be sensitive to the specific support needs of former asylum seekers and/or people who have previously served in HM armed forces.

Large households seeking housing

There is evidence of larger families in housing need who require larger properties in order to accommodate their households. There is evidence that some of these households are asylum seekers.

These households area defined as requiring a home with 5+ bedrooms to accommodate their family.

Based on evidence from the council in relation to households seeking housing where the size of the households is 6 persons or larger, there are approximately 325 households seeking a 'large property' in order to accommodate their family.

The majority of these households are experiencing overcrowding issues and, for some, medical needs, rather than identified support needs.

The primary identified need amongst these households is for larger family homes for affordable rent.

Children and young people

There is evidence of need for accessible and adapted homes amongst households with a disabled child.

There have been 91 Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) awards made to children aged 17 year and under in the last three years.

There are currently 15 children on the waiting list for DFGs and 63 children awaiting adaptations to homes.

This evidence suggests that there is a need for approximately 30 home adaptations per annum for children under 17 years with a disability from 2023 to 2024.

In relation to children placed out of borough, evidence from Children's Services indicates that amongst children aged 0 to 18 years over the period 2020 to 2021 to 2022 to 2023 there are on average 14 children placed out of borough in children's homes or residential care homes, where a locally based alternative would be desirable.

This evidence indicates that there is a potential need for additional children's home/residential care provision capacity of approximately 14 units required in Gateshead in 2023 to 2024 (there are currently proposals for approximately 7 units in three properties).

In relation to 16 to 18 years olds, over the period 2020 to 2021 to 2022 to 2023 there are on average three young people placed out of borough where a locally based alternative would be desirable.

This evidence indicates that there is a potential need for 16 to 18 year olds who are looked after by the council for supported accommodation of approximately three to five units per annum from 2023 to 2024 in Gateshead. It is assumed that this need is part of the supported housing need identified at paragraphs 7.28 to 7.30.