What options are realistically available to people experiencing - or at risk of experiencing – homelessness this winter; next winter, and beyond? What solutions can be accessed by those who are excluded from the criteria-based Housing First scheme, or by those who are resident outside of its catchment areas? What will the outcome be for singles, couples and families who lose their homes in the coming weeks and months; the vulnerable people who are running out of places to go and people to turn to; for those who are already, barely surviving? How many more people will be on the streets by the time the pilot scheme concludes in 2021?
How will Britain ultimately facilitate and manage the eventual (inevitable) mass expansion of the Housing First scheme, as well as the continually-increasing desire amongst professionals and practitioners, members of the public and people experiencing homelessness themselves, to implement a choice-based, housing-led approach towards all types of homelessness in Britain? With Housing First undoubtedly gaining traction and now fast-becoming the desired method of approach for productive response, there is no doubt that housing-led programmes will one day set the benchmark for address across Britain, as they already do across nations all over the rest of the developed world.
The Homelessness Reduction Bill of 2017 – the first major piece of British homelessness legislation for 15 years – will extend entitlements to rehousing to a wider group of ‘single’ homeless peoplecxl. This Act has the ability to transform the way homelessness services are delivered and ensure that all eligible applicants are given the help they need. Nonetheless, it is yet to be seen how local authorities will realistically implement and manage such changes, with accessible accommodation options lacking - and a continually-rising demand to contend with.
The simplistic, yet, seemingly, radical idea of ‘homes’ as a solution to homelessness is gaining monumental and universal support from service users - and people who are actually experiencing homelessness - as well as from robust evidence collected across international academic studies, independent research undertakings and practical pilot schemes, each reporting an unprecedented success rate in resolving homelessness and its wider associated issues. Our own government is now resolved to implementing a housing led approach, with policy changes implemented and significant budget allowance allocated towards large-scare exploration. And so, this reverts us to a broadening of our original question and a common theme throughout the entirety of this paper, as well as this research project as a whole:
How can we obtain a free-flowing, consistently good quality supply of diverse, barrierfree, affordable rental accommodation, as well as flexible access to accompanying holistic support, education, sign-posting and advocacy solutions; so that we are able to make stable, sustainable choice-based homes a solution to all types of homelessness; one which is freely available to all types of people, in all types of need?
cxl. https://services.parliament.uk/bills/2016-17/homelessnessreduction.html
Copyright © by Amy.F.Varle, January 2018.
The moral right of the author has been asserted.
The views and opinions expressed in this report and its content are those of the author and not of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, which has no responsibility or liability for any part of the report.
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