A briefing paper summarized research into the experiences of local authorities in Scotland in delivering affordable housing. Most respondents said that quotas for affordable housing were better defined by the local housing strategy in response to local needs than through a policy standard.
Source: Lindsey Dyck, Review of Responses to CIH Scotland Survey on Planning for Affordable Housing, Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland (0131 225 4544)
Links: Briefing
Date: 2006-Nov
A report examined affordable housing need across Scotland. It said that there was a mixed pattern of shortages and surpluses (social rented as well as low-cost housing for ownership). It forecast an overall rise in need in the short term, and a fall in the longer term.
Source: Glen Bramley, Noah Kofi Karley and David Watkins, Local Housing Need and Affordability Model for Scotland: Update (2005 based), Communities Scotland (0131 313 0044)
Links: Report | Communities Scotland press release | Shelter press release
Date: 2006-Nov
The race equality watchdog launched a new statutory code of practice on racial equality in housing, which came into force on 1 October 2006. Separate versions were published for England, Scotland, and Wales.
Source: Statutory Code of Practice on Racial Equality in Housing, Commission for Racial Equality (020 7939 0000)
Links: Code (England) | Code (Scotland) | Code (Wales) | Code (Welsh language) | CRE press release
Date: 2006-Oct
A report examined the way housing benefit rules operated for Gypsy and Traveller site rents in England, Scotland and Wales; and considered options for change. The existing system was viewed as unfair by county councils, because it did not take into account the true costs of managing a Gypsy and Traveller site.
Source: Michael Wagstaff, A Single Housing Benefit Control for Gypsy and Traveller Sites, Research Report 379, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Oct
A study examined the obstacles to older home-owners with relatively low incomes releasing housing equity, and suggested ways of overcoming them. It focused on funding home improvements and repairs, and additional care at home.
Source: Rachel Terry and Richard Gibson, Obstacles to Equity Release, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings | JRF press release
Date: 2006-Oct
A report examined the range of housing needs and problems facing lesbian/gay/bisexual people living in Wales, and identified examples of good practice among housing service providers.
Source: The Housing Needs of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual (LGB) People in Wales, Stonewall Cymru (029 2023 7744)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Oct
Researchers found nearly unanimous satisfaction with the 'Key Worker Living' programme. But there was little evidence of workers moving out of other areas to access it. (The KWL programme was designed to address recruitment and retention problems for key workers in the public sector, by providing housing solutions for these workers in areas of high-cost housing.)
Source: F. Battye et al., Evaluation of Key Worker Living: Final report, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Date: 2006-Sep
A report examined the diversity of housing needs among older people in England. Regeneration and housing development programmes were failing to take account of older people. Those in private rented accommodation were disproportionately at risk of poor quality housing, while the vast majority of older homeless people were trapped in temporary accommodation.
Source: Joe Oldman, Housing Choice for Older People, Help the Aged (020 7278 1114)
Links: Report | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Aug
A report said that young disabled people, often with severe and complex conditions, were being denied a real choice about how and where they lived. Lack of government funding, a postcode lottery of services, a chronic lack of data, and negative attitudes about 'residential care' among some policy-makers and professionals, were to blame.
Source: Rachael Christophides, Young, Disabled and Forgotten, John Grooms (020 7452 2121)
Links: Report | John Grooms press release
Date: 2006-Aug
A discussion paper examined policy issues relating to older people s housing in England, including the relationship between housing and other forms of social provision (such as community health and care services). It said that the government needed to step back and evaluate the progress that had been made in embedding older people s housing into the work of regional and local government.
Source: Joe Oldman, Housing Choice for Older People, Help the Aged (020 7278 1114)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Jul
A report examined the move into independence of young people after they left foyer accommodation. For the majority of leavers social housing provided the most stable affordable housing option. Benefit levels were set too low for young people not to be in debt, not to risk losing their accommodation, and not to eat unhealthily.
Source: Joan Smith and Oonagh Browne with Vanessa Newton and Ann O Sullivan, What Happened Next? A report on ex-residents of Foyers, Foyer Federation (020 7430 2212)
Links: Summary | Housing Corporation press release | Young People Now report
Date: 2006-Jul
A think-tank report said that the government should work with the financial services industry to provide a Home-Saver product, which would allow people to easily release some of the capital from their homes without having to sell.
Source: Jeegar Kakkad and Barney Gough, Home Made Money: A co-production approach to equity release, Social Market Foundation (020 7222 7060)
Links: Report | SMF press release
Date: 2006-Jul
An article examined how an alternative poverty standard for assessing housing affordability problems and needs might yield results that differed from those based on the ratio standard.
Source: Michael Stone, 'A housing affordability standard for the UK', Housing Studies, Volume 21 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Jul
The government set out (following consultation) its preliminary conclusions on the future of the Supporting People programme, and the areas where further work and discussions would be carried out. A full Supporting People strategy would then be developed covering the issues raised.
Source: Supporting Independence: Next Steps in our Supporting People Strategy, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Jul
A Member of Parliament introduced a Bill designed to give security of tenure for Gypsies and Travellers on local authority caravan sites.
Source: Caravan Sites (Security of Tenure) Bill, Julie Morgan MP, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard
Date: 2006-Jul
An article said that, despite good intentions and some localized successes, there were still many obstacles to refugee housing integration, arising from multiple gaps in provision, choice, and support.
Source: Deborah Phillips, 'Moving towards integration: the housing of asylum seekers and refugees in Britain', Housing Studies, Volume 21 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Jul
A literature review examined housing for older people, in order to help identify the future requirements, and provision, of older people's housing and housing support in Scotland.
Source: Francesca Richards, Gill Walker and Lorelei Jarvis, Time to Move? A literature review of housing for older people, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Jul
A report examined the role of foyers in housing association provision. It said that they filled real gaps in provision for young people, and provided a high-quality, value-for-money service. Weekly costs for foyer residents averaged 303 a week, compared with secure training centres costing 3,168 a week, and young offender institutions costing 976 a week.
Source: Roland Lovatt and Christine Whitehead, Launch Pad for Life, Housing Corporation (020 7393 2000)
Links: Report | Housing Corporation press release | Young People Now report
Date: 2006-Jul
Local authorities called for new measures to put an end to 4,000 unauthorized Gypsy and Traveller sites. By providing the Gypsy and Traveller community with sufficient authorized sites, the spread of unauthorized encampments would be stopped, and relationships between communities would be improved. Once the encampments were located on authorized sites, councils would be able to ensure that travelling communities paid council tax for the services they used.
Source: Report of the LGA Gypsy and Traveller Task Group, Local Government Association (020 7664 3000)
Links: Report | LGA press release
Date: 2006-Jun
A study examined the housing and support needs of older people in rural areas. Meeting needs in the variety of circumstances found in different rural areas required specific and tailored approaches which were often more difficult and costly than in urban areas.
Source: Mark Bevan, Karen Croucher, David Rhodes, Peter Fletcher and Moyra Riseborough, The Housing and Support Needs of Older People in Rural Areas, Centre for Housing Policy/University of York (01904 433691)
Date: 2006-Jun
A report said that housing policy neglected the needs of older people. Only care-related aspects of housing were considered relevant for older people. Local housing strategies mostly focused on rented sheltered housing to meet their needs. Unless action were taken, many older people could face housing difficulties that affected their quality of life and independence in their own home.
Source: Older People s Housing Strategies: Key policy drivers, Housing and Older People Development Group (0207 820 1343)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Jun
The social care inspectorate said that the Supporting People programme (providing housing-related support services to enable vulnerable people to live independently) had made a "real and significant difference" to many people?s lives. It had enabled councils to strengthen their focus on prevention, provide a wider range of services and models of support, and actively to promote people?s independence. It had placed housing centre stage in meeting people?s needs, and enabled more effective joint working across health, housing, and social care services. But the impact of the programme had been inconsistent across councils, due to lack of corporate ownership, insufficient preparation for the introduction of Supporting People, and lack of capacity.
Source: Supporting People ? Promoting Independence: Lessons from inspections, Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Report | CSCI press release
Date: 2006-May
The race equality watchdog said that Travellers and Gypsies should be given more legal sites in England and Wales, in order to reduce racial tensions and cut the multimillion-pound annual eviction bill. Providing 500 acres of land was the only "sustainable solution" to unwanted camps.
Source: Common Ground: Equality, good race relations and sites for Gypsies and Irish Travellers, Commission for Racial Equality (020 7939 0000)
Links: Report | Summary | CRE press release | LGA press release | Guardian report
Date: 2006-May
A report said that older people were attracted to retirement villages by the combination of independence and security they offered, as well as opportunities for social engagement and an active life.
Source: Karen Croucher, Making the Case for Retirement Villages, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings | JRF press release
Date: 2006-Apr
A Member of Parliament introduced a Bill designed to stop travellers with caravans moving onto land without permission by making trespass with a vehicle a criminal offence.
Source: Trespassing with a Vehicle (Offences) Bill, Jim Paice MP, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard
Date: 2006-Mar
A family of Gypsies lost their appeal against eviction from a public recreation ground. The Law Lords ruled that they had not established the links with the place that were needed for it to be considered the family's home within the meaning of the European human rights convention.
Source: Leeds City Council v. Price and others and others, UKHL 10 (Session 2005-06), House of Lords Judicial Office (020 7219 3111)
Links: Text of judgement | Law report | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Mar
A report examined access to housing advice for older people in black and minority ethnic communities. It highlighted the fact that this group was often among the most socially excluded in society, without access to the advice, information or advocacy they needed. It called for advice resources to be developed and the joining-up of services to provide integrated support.
Source: Who Do We Trust? Review of the housing advice needs of black and minority ethnic elders, Help the Aged (020 7278 1114)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Feb
The government published guidance on planning and enforcement to address the shortage of authorized sites for gypsies and travellers, and strengthen enforcement against 'problem' sites. The government said that a new taskgroup would draw together local authorities, the police, and other agencies to address the wide variations in the use of enforcement powers and to champion best practice.
Source: Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Caravan Sites, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, TSO (0870 600 5522) | Press release 2 February 2006, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 3000)
Links: Guidance | ODPM press release | LGA press release | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Feb
A study assessed the extent to which six English housing associations took account of accessibility issues during refurbishment programmes. The housing associations were very willing to encompass access improvements for individual disabled tenants: but their approach had been concerned with meeting these 'special needs' rather than improving the accessibility of their stock overall.
Source: Marcus Ormerod and Pam Thomas, Implementing Decent Homes Standards: How housing associations are addressing accessibility issues, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings
Date: 2006-Feb
A report presented the findings of a survey into the attitudes of tenants and leaseholders to the making of disability-related adjustments to the common parts of the rented and leased residential premises.
Source: Mark Stephens and Karen Croucher, Attitudes to Making Adjustments to Common Parts of Rented and Leased Residential Premises, Research Report 317, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Date: 2006-Feb
A literature review looked at empirical research evidence relating to housing with care for later life. Residents valued a combination of independence and security: but residents and providers did not always seem to have a shared understanding of what constituted independence .
Source: Karen Croucher, Leslie Hicks and Karen Jackson, Housing with Care for Later Life: A literature review, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings
Date: 2006-Feb
A report said that a lack of new, well designed family homes for sale could undermine plans to revitalize inner cities. Unless developers built more homes suitable for growing families in the new mixed-income housing developments, hopes of improving schools and services for families already living in inner city neighbourhoods might not be realized.
Source: Emily Silverman, Ruth Lupton and Alex Fenton, A Good Place for Children? Attracting and retaining families in inner urban mixed income communities, Chartered Institute of Housing (024 7685 1700) for Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Links: Report | JRF Findings | JRF press release
Date: 2006-Jan
A report examined investment in housing-related support for vulnerable groups at regional level. Commissioners of housing-related support had found it 'challenging' to bring together housing, health, and social care to provide an integrated approach.
Source: Matrix Insight, Housing, Care, Support: A guide to integrating housing related support at a regional level, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Jan
A report summarized the results of a pilot exercise in removing the ring fence from 'Supporting People' funding (provision of housing-related support services to enable vulnerable people to live independently). The removal of the ring fence was seen very positively by many service providers, and by almost all the respondents working within the pathfinder authorities. Most of the concerns about the removal of the ring fence centred on the risk of funding loss.
Source: Changing Supporting People Funding in England: Results from a pilot exercise, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report | DCLG press release | LGA press release
Date: 2006-Jan
The government began consultation on ways to improve the Supporting People programme.
Source: Help Us to Make Supporting People Even Better, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236)
Links: Consultation document
Date: 2006-Jan
A study examined housing-related issues facing young people. Young people's routes to independent housing were part of a bigger picture in which they were remaining longer in education and moving later into employment, independent housing, and a stable relationship with a partner. These routes were subject to increased risk and uncertainty for all young people: but some experienced greater levels of risk than others, depending on their social class background.
Source: Sue Heath, Housing Choices and Issues for Young People in the UK, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (01904 629241)
Links: Report | Findings | JRF press release
Date: 2006-Jan
The government announced that it was making ?121 million available for the disabled facilities grant in England in 2006-07, up 17 per cent on the previous year.
Source: Press release 27 January 2006, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 3000)
Links: ODPM press release | Mencap press release
Date: 2006-Jan
