Supported housing – such as what Centrepoint provides – gives thousands of vulnerable people the chance to build the skills they need to live independently and escape homelessness for good. However, it’s increasingly under threat.
In the last year, one in three supported housing providers have had to close their schemes due to funding pressures, while 60% say they will be forced to close in the future.
Overall, there has been a net loss of 3,000 supported homes in the last three years, creating an existing shortfall of 325,000 homes, based on unmet need. If this continues, an estimated 41,000 more people could become homeless, with a further 30,000 put at serious risk of future homelessness.
It’s why in April this year, the National Housing Federation (NHF) launched the Save Our Supported Housing Campaign, handing in a letter to the Prime Minister, signed by more than 170 organisations, including Centrepoint.
And now we are now supporting the Starts at Home Day on 29 August 2025, to make sure the government understands the supported housing crisis, as well as what they must do to fix it.
Why is supported housing important?
It’s a big step to start living independently, no matter who you are. Some of you reading this might remember that transition into becoming a young adult, when you stopped depending on your families as much and began to do things on your own.
There were most likely ups and downs, but you might have been supported and, most importantly, taught the skills you needed to go into the world by yourself.
At Centrepoint, many of the 14,000 young people we support have experienced instability, from living in care to a family breakdown, and they sometimes still need to develop the skills they need to live independently.
With no network of support to fall back on, this can be a big step.
That’s why supported housing is so important because it allows us to work with young people to give them the space and foundations they need to grow and succeed.
However, the opportunities to do this are dwindling.
Why is supported housing on the brink of crisis?
Since 2010, councils - who commission supported housing contracts - have seen their budgets slashed.
The National Audit Office estimates that funding for supported housing has been cut by 75%, equating to over £1bn, in the last decade. This has resulted in councils being pulled in different directions, leaving them in the impossible situation of having to choose between services.
Alongside the falling number and value of contracts, there are increased cost pressures in the form of inflation and energy price rises, as well as the costs of meeting new government regulation, environmental targets and building safety repairs.
It means the pressure on providers – particularly smaller ones – is mounting and having rarely found their operating margins this tight, some will be forced to close.
Why Centrepoint is supporting the Save Our Supported Housing Campaign?
These closures help no one. Putting aside the impact losing these services will have on the vulnerable people accessing them, closures will inevitably increase homelessness and have a knock-on effect on the NHS, prisons and domestic abuse services.
And while Centrepoint’s services aren’t under threat, thanks to our amazing supporters, we are deeply concerned about the impact on vulnerable young people where we aren’t operating and want to champion our colleagues in the sector and call on the government to save supported housing.
How can you get involved?
Find out more about Starts at Home Day 2025 and how you can show your support, connect with your local MP and call on the government to Save Our Supported Housing.
