YMCA England & Wales, the largest voluntary sector provider of supported accommodation for homeless young people in England and Wales, responds to a joint report released today (1 May 2017) by the Work and Pensions and Communities and Local Government Committees.
The report, which examines the future funding of the supported housing sector, argues that government should introduce a new Supported Housing Allowance and scrap plans to base rent allowances for supported housing tenants on rates used for claimants in the private rented sector.
Denise Hatton, Chief Executive of YMCA England & Wales, said: “As an organisation that has been delivering supported housing to individuals and families for decades, YMCA England & Wales welcomes the Work and Pensions Committee and the Local Government Committee’s report today.
“The Committees are right to recommend that plans to base rent on current Local Housing Allowance rates should be reconsidered. YMCA England & Wales has consistently said that providing safe and secure supported housing is not something that can be delivered under such challenging funding arrangements.
“As providers of supported housing to more than 18,000 vulnerable and homeless people every year, YMCAs know the true cost of delivering such a service. The reality is that the current proposals risk fewer organisations providing even less supported housing. For those organisations that do, it is more than likely that those clients with less intensive needs, and thus requiring less costly support will be housed. The end result will leave even more vulnerable people without somewhere to stay.”