MPs have called for more powers for councils in an overhaul of supported housing.
The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (LUHC) Committee has proposed an overhaul of ‘exempt accommodation’ – housing with support for homeless people, prison leavers, those recovering from alcohol and drug addiction and people who have experienced domestic abuse.
In a report published today, the committee said the current system was full of loopholes and being exploited by providers for profit.
Committee chair Clive Betts said: ‘Residents and communities are being failed while unscrupulous providers make excessive profits by capitalising on loopholes in the system.’
Recommendations in the report include establishing national standards and compulsory registration, backed with new enforcement powers for councils to help improve the quality of exempt accommodation and support services.
It also advocates collection, collation and publication of exempt accommodation annual statistics at a local authority level.
Mr Betts said: ‘The current system of exempt accommodation is a complete mess which lets down residents and local communities and which rips off the taxpayer.
‘The best examples of exempt accommodation highlight quality housing and specialist services, with proactive staff helping to support residents.
‘However, in the worst cases support amounts to little more than a loaf of bread left on the table or a support worker shouting at the bottom of the stairs to check on residents.’
This article was originally published by The MJ (£).
