Vulnerable and older people
The HCA believes that a strong and sustainable community needs to include all its members, including those who are older or vulnerable.
Vulnerable and older people require homes and opportunities that meet their particular needs, foster self-determination and support a good quality of life. Vulnerable groups include:
- older people with support needs
- rough sleepers and homeless people with support needs
- offenders and people at risk of offending
- people with alcohol or drug problems
- people with HIV or AIDs
- people with learning, physical or sensory disabilities
- people with mental health problems
- refugees
- teenage parents
- women at risk of domestic violence
- young people at risk or who are leaving care.
The needs of older and vulnerable people can be met in a variety of settings, such as shared specialist supported housing, hostels, women’s refuges and residential care homes, as well as through floating support in general needs housing. We recognise that vulnerability can be a temporary or a permanent state and we include people who require additional care and support services at home and at work, whether in specialist or mainstream settings.
Our work
We are developing a strategy which will define our approach to addressing the needs of vulnerable and older people at local and regional levels. We also have an advisory group that supports the HCA board in meeting the needs of vulnerable and older people.
Through the Places of Change Programme, we provide funding to hostels and day centres across the country. From 2008-11, the programme will support 80 projects in 54 local authority areas, with a total investment of £80m.
We work with regional and local stakeholders to ensure that the needs of vulnerable groups are taken into account when developing new and existing communities. Where land availability has constrained the supply of supported housing, we combine investment and land-based approaches to maximise opportunities for supported housing providers.
Housing our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation
The Housing our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation (HAPPI) will gather good practice from across Europe and put together new and creative proposals to help put us at the forefront of housing for older people.
Contact details
James Berrington
Policy Manager - Supported Housing
james.berrington@hca.gsx.gov.uk
Last updated: 14 July 2009
See also
Web links
- Supporting People grant programme
- Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods
- Department of Health – housing