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Helping You to Navigate the Supported Housing Maze

There are times when the future is uncertain, the way ahead is unclear and we have to navigate a maze. This is the case for supported and sheltered housing.

If you need advice on any aspect of supported and sheltered housing Michael Patterson should be your first port of call with over 30 years of supported housing consultancy experience in helping people and organisations navigate the maze of supported and sheltered housing policy, strategy and finance.

Michael Patterson can help you with:

  • The Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023
  • Advice on the future funding of supported and sheltered housing
  • Intensive Housing Management and Maintenance /enhanced Housing Benefit
  • Working with private capital finance providers with a social commitment for new supported housing
  • Specialised Supported Housing capital, revenue, policy & development
  • Replacing unfunded “alarm” systems in sheltered and other housing with Housing Proactive a Housing Benefit eligible communication systems with no setup or servicing/maintenance costs
  • Speaking engagements at supported housing and other conferences and events
  • Board & Senior Management Team briefings on any aspect of supported and sheltered housing finance, policy and operations.
  • Training/Briefing events that are tailor-made for your organisation or group of organisations on most aspects of supported and sheltered housing
  • Working with and between provider organisations and the NHS and local authorities putting together capital, revenue, supported housing solutions for people with additional needs

Michael Patterson is perhaps best known for his Briefings, which challenge established thinking and influence supported housing policy . These take the form of electronically published documents & also events across the UK on emerging supported & sheltered housing & related policy from the UK & national governments.

Michael has a reputation for saying things that others feel they can’t or shouldn’t say. That is a priceless reputation to have.

http://www.twitter.com/mpattersonltd

Sincere thanks to Michael Patterson for an excellent presentation on the HB Reform issues in Leeds last week, and for all the very helpful info and links. I do intend to respond on behalf of our organisation, but feel that Michael’s response is excellent. E.S. – Caring for Life

Found the seminar very informative and gave an interesting and full insight into current thinking about the consultation.  Michael was a very engaging and knowledgeable presenter and encouraged interaction with the audience which led to further relevant points being shared with the room.  I shall certainly look out for future events! M.E. – Care Housing Association

Michael’s in depth knowledge of the subject matter always comes across, I always go away from his events having learnt something. P.C. – Barnado’s

Excellent presentation that covers the subject matter fully. Very helpful and supportive to those of us in the private sector and non-commissioned and who are doing a great job to support those with additional needs. S.F. – Scotscare

6 thoughts on “Home”

  1. I am a resident of an Almshouse property where we have lived happily for a few years but the Charity is now having to apply for Registered Provider status. The information being given to the residents shows amount of benefits payable by the Local Council, the amount of contribution to the Trust and the difference that is now to be paid by the tenants.

    I have tried speaking to the Local Council, who tell me that nothing is yet finalised and the next phase of discussions is to be held in Jan 2024. I have 2 basic questions, 1) Where do l go to for advice and 2) what do we if we cannot afford to pay the difference between the LC amount and the Charity amount.

    Regards,
    S Guichard

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  2. Dear Mr Patterson, I write with the hope that you can clarify the following situation:-

    I live in a not for profit Charity Trust Almshouse, there are 250 cottages and flats for over 60s which form the complex. The Charity is registered with the Charity commission. I have been living here for 5 years and in receipt of limited income so have been in receipt of Housing benefit along with many other Licensees. There is a structure of Management and grounds people plus maintenance operatives, we also have two support workers that attend daily, they are at our disposal should we require assistance, they are employed by the Charity. We also have a security person who isresident. The properties are in modernised condition after refurbishment a few years ago. The properties are listed as they are over 100 years old so maintenance is expensive. All in all a well run complex.

    That was a bit of background on the set up. The problem we are encountering is our Local Authority has said we are no longer entitled to Housing Benefit as we are not a Registered Provider even though full housing benefit has been paid for years. We will only get LHA so maintenance and service charges have to be paid by low income pensioners. I would appreciate your comments on the situation. I appreciate there are a lot of changes coming from Government and the DWP, quite confusing to say the least. Lastly It would seem that not being a Registered Provider is an impediment to claiming full HB. Surely this could be seen as discrimatory. I look forward to your comments.

    Linda Roberts

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    1. Hi Linda, the Council cannot restrict HB payments on the grounds that the landlord isn’t an RP. See paragraph 243 of the DWP Guidance on the administration of HB claims for supported housing. The Council’s problem is that it can only reclaim from the DWP 60% of the difference between the Local Housing Allowance level for the accommodation in question and the amount of HB charged by the landlord in circumstances where the landlord isn’t an RP. But this is the Council’s problem and they shouldn’t make it your problem.

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      1. Hi Michael, Thankyou for taking the time te reply to my query. I have yet to find the DWP guidance that you highlighted but will endeavour to search. I feel there is a lot of smoke and mirrors coming from the LA but maybe they are not fully understanding the minefield of information. I will continue with my research before I approach the LA so that my ducks are all in a row. I look forward to the pending update to your blog.

        with best wishes

        linda

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