Successful funding bid for Stockport’s Supported Housing Improvement Programme

Stockport was one of just 26 Local Authorities and the only one in Greater Manchester to receive the funding and in the first year will receive £137,603, with a further 12 months funding allocated in April 2023 and again in April 2024.

The programme, which will span 3 years, aims to bring the best outcomes for tenants in supported housing by ensuring that the borough’s supported housing for working age people is value for money and meets housing and quality standards.

The initial focus will be on Mental Health and Learning Disability accommodation.

Several council directorates will come together and will work with landlords, support providers, housing, finance and social work teams to share a single vision for high quality supported accommodation.

The programme will pull together all elements of supported housing, including housing benefit, housing standards, quality of support, value for money, outcomes for individuals, families and communities.
Learning and findings from the programme will be shared with council colleagues across the region to ensure everyone in Greater Manchester benefit.

Councillor Helen Foster-Grime, Stockport Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities & Housing, said: “This is great news and very well done to all those who helped in the funding bid. It will help the council to redefine our approaches to new provision, developing gateway processes and critically analyse our current systems to see if we can do things differently to effect change.”

Councillor Keith Holloway, Stockport Council’s Cabinet member for Health & Adult care, said: “This is really positive news for supported housing tenants, especially those with mental health and learning disability needs who will benefit first. It will help our residents stay safe and independent. The intention will be that by the end of the three years we only have high quality supported accommodation and have landlords, support providers and social work teams sharing the same vision.”