"Provide homes for older homeless too"

13/11/2007

Help the Aged has welcomed the announcement by Housing Minister Yvette Cooper, that a homelessness scheme will receive a £70 million expansion to fund more than 100 new or upgraded hostels with training facilities - and asked for assurance that the needs of older homeless people will be considered.

 

Joe Oldman, senior housing policy adviser for Help the Aged, says: “This commitment to homelessness is necessary and very welcome - but it is crucial part of this funding is specifically directed to help vulnerable older homeless people. Far too many older people spend excessively long stays in hostels or temporary accommodation simply because there is nowhere else for them to go.
 
“Vulnerable older people, particularly those with multiple needs, are being failed by a lack of permanent accommodation and long term support. Many require urgent health and social care but their needs just aren’t being assessed.
 
“The majority of homelessness initiatives are geared towards helping younger people back into employment. But it is also essential that older homeless people have access to social and educational activities to avoid them feeling isolated and excluded. To help with resettlement, local authorities must fund schemes specifically targeted at older people.”