Why supported housing is vital to solving the NHS’ housing problem

In this blog, Harvey Crawford, Policy Manager at Rethink Mental Illness, reflects on the NHF’s recent report on hospital discharges and the need for more high-quality supported housing for those living with severe mental ill health. 

Last month, our friends at the National Housing Federation launched an important new report: Finding a safe home after hospital. 

This research demonstrates that the issue of delayed discharge from mental health hospitals has far reaching implications for many other aspects of an individual’s journey through mental health care. 

What difference does supported housing make to the NHS and residents? 

If an individual is unable to leave hospital because they don’t have a safe home to go to, it results in a longer stays after they no longer clinically require a bedspace. This contributes to long waits in Accident and Emergency departments for other people experiencing a mental health crisis. Some even face being sent many miles away from their friends, family and community for treatment. These out of area placements are associated with increased patient distress, isolation and risk of self-harm and suicidal ideation, jeopardising their recovery. 

Normally buried away in large NHS datasets – the NHF’s report shines a valuable spotlight on the scale of this problem and the sheer cost to both individuals and our health service. It also makes clear that the answer, to a significant extent, lies with supported housing. 

This is not a surprise to those of us at Rethink Mental Illness. Housing is a core part of what we do, both as a provider of supported housing and beyond. 

Supported housing offers a safe environment for people to recover and build their confidence, often following a stay in hospital, helping them to live more independently in their local community. 

How we’re exploring this issue at Rethink Mental Illness 

Our 2019 report, Building communities that care, recognised that access to high quality and timely treatment was only one vital factor when supporting people severely affected by mental illness. It identified housing as one of six fundamental pillars contributing to a person’s mental health.  

The NHF’s important findings echo those of Rethink’s 2024 report, The Long Journey Home, authored with New Philanthropy Capital (NPC). This research explored an individual’s journey through the strained and fragmented supported housing system, and the different factors affecting their experiences. We made the case for strong and joined-up strategic planning and partnerships across housing, health, social care and social security on policy, strategy, funding and delivery of supported housing to address this. 

We’re also exploring this at a local level through our supported housing pilot, where we’re working with the NHS, local authorities and other stakeholders in a small number of areas to understand their supported housing system. We’re designing and testing new models that unlock the supply and delivery of new and high-quality supported housing and working with NPC to capture insights and lessons during this process. 

Why we need long-term commitments from the government  

Six months into the government’s term, now is the time to get this right. At Rethink Mental Illness, we’re keenly following the passage of the Mental Health Bill through Parliament. It’s clear that its success will rely on supported housing and robust, responsive and joined up neighbourhood mental health services. If we do this, we can treat more people in their own communities, reducing detentions and reliance on hospital care.  

We also welcome the government’s implementation of the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023. While it’s important to crack down on inadequate properties and provision, it is also vital to increase the supply of high-quality supported housing that meets the needs of individuals. 

Thankfully, we have an opportunity to do this. The government is committed to working within and across departments to deliver its three missions. The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has stated the upcoming Ten-Year Health Plan will facilitate a shift from hospital to community. The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, has emphasised the government’s commitment to ‘build[ing] the homes we need’ and a long-term housing strategy. 

For both the NHF and Rethink Mental Illness, it is clear that people living with a mental illness, and our NHS, simply cannot afford a missed opportunity to deliver more high quality, supported housing. 

To learn more, get in touch with Harvey at: harvey.crawford@rethink.org