Communities in United Kingdom
The plight of older, vulnerable homeless people
GOOD PRACTICE TITLE: The plight of older, vulnerable homeless people
KIND OF PRACTICE:Education / Training / Employability / Empowerment
DOCUMENT AUTHOR (ORGANIZATION AND AUTHOR NAME):
Mary Seacole Housing Association; Lennox Adams
PLACE: Luton
CONTEXT, FIELD OF INTERVENTION:
There has been a rapid increase in the number of vulnerable, mature people who have been made homeless for a variety of reasons, including:
• Family breakdowns and separation (males mainly suffer)
• Domestic violence (females mainly suffer)
• Economic matters (people affected by employment loss, bereavement, home loss, etc.)
• People with a long history of tenancy, who cannot afford their own homes
• Failure to carry out timely home repairs
• People who rely on families or neighbours to take up issues on their behalf
• Insecurity and a justified fear of eviction, linked to unscrupulous landlords
• Difficulties in getting home adaptations carried out
• Elements linked to austerity cuts
• Disability linked to old age
• Lack of alternative private rented accommodation requiring older tenants to move
Whatever the reason, the number of older tenants in the UK has increased by 200,000 since 2013, according to Age UK. Research carried out by Corporate Watch and Age Concern identified Luton as a UK “hotspot” for home-care crisis and the evolution of older homeless people. This evolution is occurring at a time when:
• there is a shortage of housing stock for single people
• the concept of affordable rent is changing rapidly, being adversely affected by proximity to London
• there is an active policy to provide accommodation for single young people
As a result of the increasing need among older people, MSHA has extended its upper age limit from 35 to 60. This move was approved by Luton Borough Council.
PERIOD:
June 2016 - present
POPULATION, PARTICIPANTS:
MSHA has set aside its hostel, Seacole House (3 adjoining properties in Marsh Farm, Luton, see panel following, for older homeless males. The location of the hostel is in the suburbs of Luton, some 10 Km from the town centre. There is similar accommodation for older homeless females under the “women with complex needs banner” at a number of houses distributed across Luton.
The total number of participants is about 30 (Sept 2017) and is expected to rise because the supply of older, homeless people is increasing. The accommodation
COORDINATORS:
MSHA
METHODOLOGY (HOW THE PRACTICE WORKS):
Participants in the scheme follow the standard MSHA induction policy followed by an agreement demonstrates to the client that there is a clear distinction in treatment between younger clients (<35 years of age) and themselves. Older clients have made it clear they do not want to be “trained” with younger clients. As a result, MSHA uses Andragogy approaches for dealing with them. Pedagogy is not suitable in most cases, see panel below. Under Andragogy the client is the focus of the treatment and the
content of the client’s programme becomes a “pick & mix” of topics selected by the client. Nearly all the topics have some link to problem-solving. This is essential in the view of the client to ease transition from homelessness to hostel life, current status and ease transition from hostel life to independent living. The client does not consider training to be important at this stage. Priority is given to life skills, volunteering and community cohesion skills. Aspects of training and topics requiring training are “bolted” on to a core programme of learning to survive.
There is no direct attempt to explain the philosophy underlying the methodology of the practice at induction or during the early days “on programme” because the older clients are often overeager to restore a familiar lifestyle without dealing with the underlying problems.
• Pre-entry (Interviews, transfers of historical documents, referral notes, etc)
• Induction, at entry (Interviews, tours, meetings with managers, key workers and trainers)
• On programme (Adjustment to being made homeless, pick & mix topics)
• Progression planning (Preparation for the next stage of personal development)
• Extension programme (Some older clients might require a longer period of adjustment with prescribed study topics or gaining experience)
• Progression planning (Preparation for the next stage of personal development)
While the client is on programme the holistic approach is explained. This explanation includes the importance of adjusting to homelessness and understanding the stages of the grief caused by homelessness.
PARTICIPATORY PROCESS:
All older clients are eligible to participate in this practice. The degree of participation is decided at the pre-entry stage but is modified “on programme” according to circumstance, e.g., if the client gains employed or preparing for employment. The expectation is that the client knows what he or she wants. In addition the clients should also know the best route to a successful outcome. As a result, the client selects study topics and training events from the selection on offer. Our experience indicates clear key routes to progression to independent living, including:
• preparation for employment
• preparation for a change in employment
• maintaining employment
• voluntary work
• leisure
The study topics and training events, therefore are geared towards these outcomes
TIME TO BE SUCCESFUL (HOW MANY TIME THE PRACTICE TAKE TO ACHIEVE THEIR OBJECTIVES):
Not established
VALIDITY (IF THE PARTICIPANTS THINK THAT THE PRACTICE RESOLVED THE PROBLEMATIC):
The older clients have made some requests regarding this practice. These are:
• they do not want to be trained alongside the younger clients, whom they regard as having “different needs”
• they want accommodation separated from the younger clients – with other mature clients
• they prefer any training to be carried out within the hostel environment rather than at the MSHA training unit
• they prefer one-to-one sessions or small groups
Employing these “conditions” should strengthen the validity of the practice and increase the chance of a successful outcome.
IMPACT:
MSHA is recording impact in a simple way. The client records an impact score based on reports, progress and personal development according to:
• Social well-being: in that the client is able to integrate better, scored 0-5
• Economic well-being: in that the client feels more in control of finances, scored 0-5
• Environmental well-being: in that the client feels safe and secure, scored 0-5
• Educational well-being: in that the client is learning something new, scored 0-5
• Things the client say in addition to the above
INNOVATION:
The plight of homeless older people is being made worse by the refugee crisis in Europe. Some of the innovations developed for refugees have been applied to older homeless people. These are mainly emergency measures are short-term measures. MSHA wants longer-term measures.
MSHA uses the “accommodation – economic – personal – education” feedback system as a means of analyzing the reasons for older people becoming homeless
MSHA has developed a variant of SWOT analysis for identifying key areas of the feedback system mentioned above.
Development with private landlords in which affordable rents are key features.
Further links with Luton Borough Council promoting the construction of more homes for single people with rents they can afford.
Instituting voluntary work for older clients as a means of regaining permanent employment.
In order to raise awareness of this plight, it was suggested my MSHA wardens that CLM Project sets up a number of mini-projects for volunteers and wardens to run for the benefit of older client. These mini-projects must satisfy the aims and objectives of CLM and work towards recording good practices.
RESOURCES OR CONDITIONS NEEDED FOR THE PRACTICE:
Resources: New accommodation acquired by MSHA
Conditions: Clients for this accommodation must be aged 35+
LIMITATIONS:
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There are few private landlords wo are willing to work as partners with MSHA. Most have been taking advantage of rising rents to attract investment from London. In so doing many landlords have been evicting tenants in preference for those who will pay higher rents
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The housing stock in Luton for single people is limited. Preferred locations close to the town centre are in very short supply. Some offices have been converted into temporary accommodation; MSHA has adjusted accordingly. In addition, MSHA has been looking for properties outside the town.
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Older clients must be willing to participate in the MSHA process. There have been complaints of older clients not wanting the same or similar provisions for younger clients.
LEARNED LESSONS: :
This is a new initiative and so there have been (and will be) many small adjustments towards a successful model of operation. These are expected.
SUSTAINABILITY:
In theory the practice is sustainable – as long as the supply of older homeless clients remains high.
REPLICABILITY:
It will not be easy to replicate this practice. Many of the conditions, although not unique, concern responses to conditions currently in operation in Luton (Sept 2017). These conditions must be evident in any setting before the practice can be applied. The practice is not linked to political status, ethnic composition/distribution, refugee status or other similar factor, common in certain part of Europe. The key factor of demographic composition is - age.
CONCLUSION:
Homeless, older people, as a component of demographic composition, is often overlooked or forgotten, especially if the older people are of an “economically active age”. Their plight has become noticeable because of the “fall-out” due to austerity measure or the actions of unscrupulous landlords. Luton Borough Council has encouraged housing associations to alleviate a problem before it becomes a crisis. MSHA is part of this solution. As an example of good practice, MSHA has devised a practice for alleviating and tracking this problem. MSHA’s solution is firmly based in Luton, where economic and social conditions may be significantly different to other places in Europe. Even so, this example of good practice is worth describing, for parts of the practice (if not all of it) are transferable.
CONTACT (PRACTICES AUTHOR AND ORGANIZATION):
Nicole Christophi, MSHA Training Unit, 30-32 Brantwood Road, Luton, LU1 1JJ
Delrissa Jacques, Stewart House, Alma Link, Luton, LU1 1EL