Supported Housing Improvement Programme (SHIP)

What supported housing is

In supported housing, accommodation is provided alongside support and supervision to help people live as independently as possible in the community. This includes:

• individuals at risk of or who have experienced homelessness
• people recovering from drug or alcohol dependence
• people with experience of the criminal justice system
• young people with a support need (such as care leavers or teenage parents)
• people with mental ill health
• people fleeing domestic abuse

Background

Supported housing can be both commissioned (services provided on our behalf through an agreement) and non-commissioned. The Supported Housing Improvement Programme (SHIP) is looking at those non-commissioned supported housing providers.

In County Durham there are currently 19 providers of non-commissioned supported housing.  These providers manage 522 properties providing supported accommodation for around 650 people.

The funding which runs up until March 2025 will enable us to increase our oversight and involvement in the non-commissioned supported housing sector. A specialist team has been created and the proposed outcomes of the programme are:

• Improved property and management standards of supported accommodation
• Improved knowledge to better manage supply
• Quality support tailored to meet individual tenant needs
• Value for money for both providers, tenants and the council
• Upskilling of the providers' workforce
• Improved engagement and support to service users from the council
• Joint production of a supported accommodation charter to help establish and maintain high standards

Contact

If you are a new supported housing provider, or a provider considering expanding supported housing in County Durham contact us to discuss the local need.