ERoSH responds to the government's new housing strategy

ERoSH has praised the government for its recognition of the potential of sheltered housing as 'vibrant community hubs' in its recently published 'Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods - A National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society'. But the charity now warns Supporting People teams and commissioners not to under estimate what is already on their doorstep.

Responding to the government's plans, Imogen Parry, ERoSH's Director of Policy, said, "It looks like the government has responded to our lobbying and response to the draft strategy judging by the overall positive references to sheltered housing and case studies in the final document.

"There are some sheltered housing models out there that do not appeal to consumers; a fact that we recognised in our recently published 2008 position statement. Our work is to show how a good scheme works, how it can empower older people, how it can create well being and how it can have a hugely positive impact on residents' lives; something which the government has acknowledged in this document. This message should be driven down to local and regional level, to housing authorities, and Supporting People teams and commissioners who should be advised not to neglect what's on their doorstep."

ERoSH has therefore welcomed the government's announcement in the strategy that it intends to consider what support can be given to the re-modelling of hard-to-let or poor quality schemes, which recent research has found to be complex and expensive.

Imogen continued, "While ERoSH wants to see more sheltered housing being built, we are glad to see the government recognises the untapped potential in existing stock; that with good managers, leadership and effective partnerships they can become much needed community hubs.

"Sheltered housing occupies a dominant position in the spectrum of housing choices for older people. A good sheltered housing scheme is a lifetime home and a lifetime neighbourhood in microcosm and the sector can contribute immensely to helping the government achieve its vision on a macro level."

ERoSH is soon to launch a unique new DVD which includes a series of case studies about activities and programmes currently happening in sheltered housing that illustrate to housing and social care professionals how schemes can become community hubs, tackle exclusion and promote active ageing. The DVD will soon be freely available to download from this website.