Council Cuts Push Specialist Housing For Vulnerable People Into The Cold

Housing providers are concerned that growing numbers of tenants with mental health issues are ending up in general needs housing, where they do not receive the help provided in specialist supported housing. A recent survey reveals a 14% fall in spending by councils on people with mental health issues in supported housing since 2011–12, based on 250 English councils that responded to Freedom of Information requests. Between 2011 and 2017 there will have been a drop of nearly £7.3m in spend on people with mental health in supported housing by the 47 councils in England that responded fully to the survey. In 2011–12, those councils’ combined budget, including both commissioned services and those they pay for directly, was £50.9m; this year’s budget is £43.6m. Read more on the Guardian website.