The resettlement of older homeless

people into independent housing

Maureen Crane, Sarah Coward and Tony WarnesUniversity of Sheffield

Presentation to UK Coalition on Older Homelessness, October 2009

Aims of the presentation

To present the outcomes of the resettlement of older

homeless people from hostels into independent

accommodation. The presentation will describe:

The characteristics of the study respondents

The resettlement accommodation and the move

How they managed during the first six months

Their settledness and housing outcomes

To produce longitudinal information about: (a) the

experiences of homeless people who are resettled, and (b)

the factors that influence the outcomes.

To assess the relative contributions to settledness, tenancy

sustainment and achieved independence of:

* the resettled person’s characteristics

* the resettlement preparation and follow-up support

* the condition and amenities of the accommodation

* events and experiences post-resettlement

Funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council

Aims of

Sample 400 single homeless people aged 16+ years in two clusters:

London, and Nottinghamshire / Yorkshire.

Resettled into independent accommodation by six homelessness sector organisations. Broadly representative of those resettled by the organisations in 2006.

56 respondents were aged 50+ years.

Information collected includes: accommodation histories; education, training and employment; personal problems; income and expenditure; use of time; family and social networks; help and support before and after moving.

Partner organisations

Methods of collecting data

Semi-structured interviews conducted with respondents immediately before being resettled, and after 6 and 18 months. Interviews from June 2007 to November 2009.

Once resettled, most interviews were conducted in respondents’ homes; a few in cafes, pubs or other places. Respondents given £10 for baseline interview and £15 for subsequent interviews – an incentive to encourage them to keep in contact.

Key-worker completed questionnaire at baseline.

Tracking exercise at 12 months to find out whereabouts. Contact details collected for relatives, friends, and services used – very important element of keeping in touch.

Older people Older people in FOR-HOMEin FOR-HOME

38 were resettled by the London organisations; 18 by the Notts / Yorks organisations.

At time of resettlement, 41 respondents were aged 50-59 years, and 15 aged 60+ years; oldest was aged 84.

51 were men; only 5 women (and all were aged 50-59 years).

Most (82%) were White British / Irish.

43% were never married, 5% widowed and the rest separated / divorced.

24% aged 50-59 and 13% aged 60+ had been homeless before (compared to 52% aged 25-49 years).

The older respondents

Common reasons for homelessness

Reasons Age 50-59 Age 60+ All ages

Percentages

Financial problems 32 33 19

Redundancy, retirement, other work problems

27 27 12

Housing tenure / landlord problems 29 20 20

Marital / partner breakdown 24 13 21

Death spouse / partner 2 20 2

Death parents 5 20 2

Alcohol problems 20 20 13

Mental health problems 22 0 9

Number of months homeless to time resettled (most recent episode)

22

33

37

40

32

7

10

20

0

15

30

45

Aged 50-59 Aged 60+

Per

cen

tag

e o

f re

spo

nd

ents

Up to 12

13-60

61-120

121+

Number of months in last hostel before being resettled

17

40

1513

32

27

37

20

0

10

20

30

40

50

Aged 50-59 Aged 60+

Pe

rce

nta

ge o

f re

sp

on

de

nts

Up to 6>6-12>12-24>24

Mental health and substance misuse problems during five years before being resettled

63

21

6358

40

3339

0

57

0

20

40

60

80

50-59 60+ All ages

Age groups (years)

Pe

rce

nta

ge

of r

esp

on

de

nts

Mental health Alcohol Drugs

Help with mental health problems before being resettled (only those with problems)

77

55

46

69

0

15

30

45

60

75

90

50+ years All ages

Per

cen

tag

e o

f re

spo

nd

ents

Any treatment From mental health services

Help with alcohol problems before being resettled (only those with problems)

66

27

4243

0

15

30

45

60

75

50+ years All ages

Per

cen

tag

e o

f re

spo

nd

ents

Any treatment From alcohol services

Previous experience of independent living

Only 33% of those aged 50+ had lived alone for more than 5 years. 40% aged 60+ had never lived alone.

Most said they had had a lot of experience of cooking and keeping a home clean.

Only 61% aged 50-59 and 47% aged 60+ had had a lot of experience of paying utility bills.

27% aged 60+ had no experience of paying utility bills – they had always lived with their parents, or in lodgings with landladies or in tied accommodation.

Advice and training from hostel staff on managing a home

Advice and training Age 50-59 Age 60+ All ages

Received Percentages

… cooking / preparing meals 32 47 28

… paying bills 41 53 40

… budgeting / managing money 37 60 38

Would have liked but did not get

… cooking / preparing meals 5 7 5

… paying bills 10 7 12

… budgeting / managing money 7 0 10

The resettlement The resettlement accommodation accommodation

and the moveand the move

Social Housing, Lenton, Nottingham

The resettlement accommodation

• 13 of the 15 aged 60+ and 4 aged 50-59 years moved to sheltered accommodation with a warden.

Tenure 17-24 years 25-49 years 50-59 years 60+ years

Percentages

Local authority 63 42 49 40

Housing association 26 41 41 60

Private-rented 11 17 10 0

Sample size 97 247 41 15

Respondents’ concerns about moving

Concerns Age 50-59 Age 60+ All ages

Percentages

Moving quickly / arranging the move / getting furniture

24 27 23

Possible problems after moving

… managing finances / paying bills 26 7 25

… isolation and loneliness 30 27 19

… occupying time 13 13 12

… coping at home 17 13 9

Readiness of the accommodation at time of moving

Many older people moved into accommodation that

lacked basic furniture and appliances

51% no bed

67% no cooker

65% no fridge

61% no armchair / sofa

49% lacked carpets / floor covering

The first six monthsThe first six months

Problems with the condition of the accommodation at six months

Those who moved to sheltered accommodation less likely to report problems with the condition of the accommodation; presumably maintenance and repairs are dealt with by the warden.

Common problems 50-59 years 60+ years All ages

Percentages

Any problem 56 14 71

Problems with:

… dampness / mould 13 0 12

… heating / boiler 26 7 31

… leaks / flooding 3 7 10

Furniture / furnishings still missing after six months (those aged 50+)

4% no bed

14% no cooker

4% no fridge

4% no armchair / sofa

24% lacked carpets / floor covering

Managing household tasks and finances

82% aged 50-59 years had a cooked meal most days, and cooked their own food.

Only 64% aged 60+ cooked their own food. Others ate in cafes, pubs or went to homelessness day centres for food. 15% only had a cooked meal once or twice a week.

26% of older respondents reported problems managing household tasks - due to lack of cooking facilities or a washing machine, or poor motivation.

17% of older respondents reported ‘frequent’ problems with budgeting and managing money, and 26% ‘occasional’ problems.

Most older respondents claimed Housing Benefit towards their rent. 56% aged 50-59 and 15% aged 60+ did not pay anything towards the rent.

During the first 6 months, 40% had rent arrears. When interviewed at six months, 15% still had rent arrears. No difference between those aged in their fifties and those aged 60+.

During the first 6 months, 11% had been threatened with eviction, mostly for rent arrears.

Early arrears often due to HB problems; continued arrears to personal factors.

Rent and rent arrearsRent and rent arrears

Debts (%)

Debts Aged 50-59 Aged 60+Baseline 6 months Baseline 6 months

Had debts 34 41 27 36

… less than £500 12 19 13 7

… more than £1,000 14 14 7 7

Has debts: amount unknown

2 5 0 21

…

Support and social Support and social contactscontacts

Contact with family and friends

Strong age relationship in social contacts

Contact 17-24 yrs 25-49 yrs 50-59 yrs 60+ yrs

In contact with relatives % 95 84 56 36

Number of relatives in contact at least monthly

5.1 3.3 1.3 1.6

NO contact with family or friends %

0 6 18 21

Socialises with neighbours

23 2326

50

0

20

40

60

16-24 25-49 50-59 60+

Age groups (years)

Pe

rce

nta

ge

wh

o s

oc

ialis

e

Tenancy support during first six months

Support Aged 50-59 Aged 60+

Percentages

Had support from tenancy support worker 68 33

Had warden / no tenancy support worker 7 53

No tenancy support worker or warden 20 7

Saw tenancy support worker at least weekly in first month

39 20

… Settledness and Settledness and housing outcomeshousing outcomes

Pleased with the accommodation (6 months)

32

17 130

867470

49

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

17-24 25-49 50-59 60+

Age groups (years)

Definitely Think so Don't think so Definitely not

Settled in the accommodation (6 months)

4151

73 79

3026

11 0

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

17-24 25-49 50-59 60+

Definitely Think so Don't think so Definitely not

Age groups (years)

Thought about giving up tenancy in first six months

48

33

26

17

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

17-24 25-49 50-59 60+

Age groups (years)

Pe

rce

nta

ge

of

res

po

nd

en

ts

Worried about how things are going Worried about how things are going (at 6 months)(at 6 months)

21

8

42

23

37

69

0

20

40

60

80

50-59 60+

Pe

rce

nta

ge

of

res

po

nd

en

ts

Most of the time Sometimes Not at all

Housing outcomes at 6 months

Outcome 50-59 years 60+ years All ages

Percentages

In original accommodation 93 87 87

Moved to new tenancy 2 7 3

Evicted / abandoned 2 7 5

Died 2 0 1

Other 0 0 4

Tenancies ending and reasons

So far, the tenancies of 7 older respondents have ended throughevictions, abandonments and moves (11 still have to be interviewedat 18 months).

1 man - mental health problems exacerbated – admitted to psychiatric hospital after a few weeks and then discharged to residential care.

3 men – alcohol problems. One tenancy ended after 2 weeks and the man returned to a hostel. Another allowed drug users to stay in his flat and he returned to a hostel. The third was evicted for anti-social behaviour and is now homeless.

2 men – evicted for rent arrears. Local Housing Allowance was paid directly to one man who then did not pay the landlord. He was evicted.

One man moved to be nearer relatives.

Title

Content

Reflections and Reflections and conclusionsconclusions

How independent after being rehoused?

Most older respondents still in their original accommodation after 18 months. More likely to be settled than the younger respondents.

Many resettled in tenancies that were inadequately prepared. By six months, most had basic furniture and household equipment. Those in their fifties more likely to be experiencing problems with repairs – no warden to chase this up.

Those in their fifties tended to be more independent than those aged 60+. Several aged 60+ relied on day centres, cafes or pubs for food.

Financial problems were a major concern. Many struggled financially and had rent arrears. The percentage with debts increased during the first six months.

How supported after being rehoused?

Sheltered accommodation proved suitable for several respondents in their 60s – they had no contact with family and friends, but settled in sheltered housing and socialised with other tenants.

Worrying number of evictions and tenancies ending among the older respondents due to alcohol or mental health problems, or poor household management skills. Mental health and alcohol

more of a problem among those in their fifties.

Support for those aged 50-59 was mainly from tenancy support workers, while for those aged 60+ it was from a warden. Tenancy support workers provide specialist ‘one-to-one’ help for various problems; wardens mainly deal with accommodation and rent issues.

Thanks to …All the respondents who have participated in this study over an extraordinarily long time.

Ruby Fu, Camilla Mercer and Louise Joly who have helped massively with running the project and coding the data.

The freelance interviewers – Gary Bellamy, Paul Gilsenan, Louise Joly and John Miles.

Members of the Management Committee: David Fisher (Broadway), Caroline Day and Jennifer Monfort (Centrepoint), Peter Radage and Rachel Harding (Framework), Julie Robinson and Tony Beech (St Anne’s), Simon Hughes and George Miller (St Mungo’s), and John Crowther and Debra Ives (Thames Reach), and to all their colleagues who have been Link Workers or have otherwise assisted with recruitment and tracking.

Contact details

Tony Warnes: a.warnes@sheffield.ac.uk

Maureen Crane: m.a.crane@sheffield.ac.uk

Sarah Coward: s.e.coward@sheffield.ac.uk

www.shef.ac.uk/sisa/research/fields/homeless