Housing First monitoring report: April-September 2023
Housing First quarterly monitoring from April to September 2023
This document is part of a collection
The data collected by the Scottish Government captures Housing First tenancies which started between 1 April 2021 and 30 September 2023. Prior to this date, data on Housing First tenancies in the pathfinder areas was independently assessed and published here.
Key points
- It is estimated that a total of 1,646[1] Housing First tenancies have started across Scotland at 30 September 2023.
- A total of 150 new Housing First tenancies started between 1 April 2023 and 30 September 2023. This brings the total number of Housing First tenancies started since 1 April 2021 to 812[2].
- There are currently 717 Housing First tenancies:
- 95 tenancies have ended (none ended in eviction).
- 70 tenancies are in the ‘step down’ phase, and 42 are in the ‘stand down’ phase.[3] Within the 717 Housing First tenancies there are 726 adults and 100 children. Additionally, 84 households had access to 132 children but do not have full-time custody.
- Between 1 April 2021 to 30 September 2023, it has taken an average of 257 days for a Housing First participant to move into a permanent tenancy from the referral date.
- 17.5% of Housing First participants moved into their tenancy within 50 days.
- 95% of Housing First households are single people.
- 40% of participants are aged 35-49.
Tenancy sustainment rates[4] are at 90% over 12 months after entry.
Housing First across Scotland
From responses received through the monitoring framework, 26 local authorities are operating a Housing First programme at 30 September 2023. One more local authority is currently developing a Housing First programme.
The remaining five local authorities are not currently planning on delivering a Housing First programme due to scale or they have an alternative support programme in place.
This monitoring report captures Housing First tenancies which have begun across all 26 local authorities who are currently delivering Housing First.
Tenancies
150 new Housing First tenancies started across 24 local authorities between 1 April 2023 and 30 September 2023. This brings the total number of Housing First tenancies started between 1 April 2021 and 30 September 2023 to 812.
All tenants are in a permanent tenancy and are not in temporary accommodation. 95 tenancies have now ended; 70 people have now moved into the ‘step down’ phase; and a further 42 are in the ‘stand down’ phase of Housing First.
Table A: Total number of tenancies started in each local authority between 1 April 2021 and 30 September 2023 and latest quarterly return.
1 April 21 – 31 March 23
Local Authority Tenancies
Scotland 812
Renfrewshire 87
Glasgow City 84
Aberdeenshire 72
Fife 52
North Ayrshire 51
Midlothian 50
North Lanarkshire 48
West Dunbartonshire 46
City of Edinburgh 45
Dundee City 40
Stirling 30
Aberdeen City 29
Inverclyde 28
Falkirk 21
South Lanarkshire 16
Dumfries & Galloway 15
South Ayrshire 14
Angus 13
Scottish Borders 13
Moray 12
West Lothian 10
East Ayrshire 9
Argyll & Bute 8
Western Isles 8
East Lothian 7
Highland <5
1 April 23 – 30 September 23
Local Authority Tenancies
Scotland 150
Fife 23
City of Edinburgh 16
Renfrewshire 14
Aberdeenshire 13
Glasgow City 10
North Ayrshire 9
Inverclyde 8
Midlothian 8
Aberdeen City 6
Moray 6
Dundee City 5
Stirling 5
Angus <5
Argyll & Bute <5
Dumfries & Galloway <5
Scottish Borders <5
East Lothian <5
Falkirk <5
North Lanarkshire <5
West Lothian <5
East Ayrshire <5
Western Isles <5
Highland <5
South Ayrshire <5
Information was gathered on whether or not households had a homelessness application (HL1) and/or Housing Options (PREVENT1) approach recorded. Data shows that 92% of Housing First participants had a homelessness application, and 70% had a Housing Options[5] approach recorded.
Household characteristics
The data for this section is based on the main Housing First participant in ‘live’, ‘step down’ or ‘stand down’ tenancies which began between 1 April 2021 and 30 September 2023.
Gender
Across the 717 ‘live’, ‘step down’ or ‘stand down’ tenancies, 66% of the main Housing First tenants are male and 34% are female.[6]
Household composition
Chart 1: The household composition of Housing First tenancies.
Single Male 65%
Single Female 29%
Single Parent 4%
Couple/Other 2%
Chart 1 note: 94% of Housing First households are single people. ‘Single Parent’ includes both Male and Female data.
Residing within the 717 households were 726 adults. Within 54 Housing First tenancies there are 100 children. Additionally, 84 households had access to 132 children but do not have full-time custody.
Age
Chart 2: Age of main Housing First participant at tenancy start date.
16-17 2%
18-24 18%
25-34 27%
35-49 40%
50-64 13%
Chart 2 note: There are no Housing First participants over the age of 65.
Ethnicity
Chart 3: Ethnicity of the main Housing First tenant
White Scottish 94%
Other British 4%
Other ethnic group 2%
Sexual orientation
Chart 4: Sexual orientation of the main Housing First tenant
Heterosexual/ Straight 60%
Don’t know 32%
Prefer not to say 5%
Gay/Lesbian 1%
Bi-Sexual 1%
Local authorities have been asked to collect information on the sexual orientation of the main Housing First participant. Due to this data not being collected in some local authorities and because answering the question is voluntary, many responses were initially recorded as unknown.
Disability
Chart 5: Proportion of Housing First participants with a disability.
No 63%
Yes 28%
Don’t know 7%
Prefer not to say 1%
Housing First tenancies
For tenancies which have begun since 1 April 2021, the average length of time between participants being referred for Housing First support and being offered a permanent tenancy is 231 days across the 26 local authorities. This has increased from 217 days in the previous quarterly report. The average time from referral to permanent tenancy has increased in the last two reporting periods from 243 to 257 days.
Chart 6: Tenancy type of ‘live’, ‘step down’ or ‘stand down’ tenancies.
LA Tenancy 68%
RSL 28%
PRS 4%
Of the 717 ‘live’, ‘step down’ or ‘stand down’ tenancies, the proportion of local authority tenancies has maintained at 68%. Registered social landlords (RSLs) have provided a lower but steady proportion of Housing First tenancies – around a quarter of all tenancies over the last three reporting periods. 23 tenancies are either the private rented sector (PRS) or ‘Other’, representing 4% of the total number of tenancies, an increase on the previous report period which was 1%.
Chart 7: Banded national average in days to access a permanent tenancy from referral date.
0-50 17.5%
51-100 18.5%
101-150 12.6%
151-200 10.9%
201-250 7.9%
251-300 7.1%
301-350 5.6%
351-450 4.9%
451-550 2.5%
551-650 2.4%
651-750 2.0%
751+ 7.9%
Chart 7 shows that 17.5% of Housing First participants move into their tenancies within 50 days. The proportion of participants waiting over 350 days previously increase from 15% (April 21 to March 22) to 21% (April 21 to March 23) and we now see a slight drop to 20% (1 April 21 to 31 September). This average has been calculated on a national basis due to the small number of tenancies in some local authority areas at present.
Referral Route
Chart 8: Referral route of Housing First participants.
Homelessness application 57.7%
Area housing office 11.2%
Other 10.3%
Addiction referral 5.9%
Criminal Justice System 5.2%
Third Sector 5.5%
Prison 3.1%
Through-care/ after-care 1%
Police/NHS 0.3%
Housing First support
The data for this section is based on the main Housing First participant in 605 tenancies where support continues to be provided, and the tenancy is ‘live’. This excludes tenancies which are in the ‘step down’ or ‘stand down’ phase.
Local authorities were asked to record the support that each Housing First participant is currently receiving or has previously received. Given the small numbers in a number of categories, information on ‘current’ and ‘previous’ support needs have been combined for disclosure control purposes.
Chart 9: Proportion of Housing First participants with support needs.
General Housing Support 97%
Budgeting 90%
Accessing Benefits 87%
Upkeep of Tenancy 86%
Resettlement 85%
Mental Health 80%
Drugs 73%
Safety/Security 69%
Social Isolation 67%
Criminal Activity 65%
Advocacy 56%
Alcohol 49%
Physical Health 47%
Exploitation 40%
Literacy 33%
Other 27%
Sexual Health 19%
Personal Care 11%
Learning Disability 9%
Chart 9 shows the proportion of participants who were recorded as having a ‘current’ or ‘previous’ support need across 19 categories.
Chart 10: Proportion of Housing First participants with support needs which are not catered for.
Mental Health 9.3%
Other 3.5%
Budgeting 3.3%
Learning Disability 3.1%
Exploitation 3.0%
Drugs 2.6%
Upkeep of Tenancy 2.1%
Criminal Activity 2.0%
Sexual Health 2.0%
Alcohol 2.0%
Literacy 2.0%
Physical Health 1.8%
Advocacy 1.8%
Safety/Security 1.7%
Social Isolation 1.7%
Personal Care 1.3%
Chart 10 Note: The ‘Other’ category includes Housing First participants who have unmet support needs across ‘Accessing Benefits’, ‘General Housing Support’, ‘Resettlement’ and ‘Other’ categories. Due to the small numbers within each area, we are unable to provide a more detailed breakdown.
Chart 10 shows where support was required, but not provided, for Housing First participants across the same 19 categories. Proportionally fewer Housing First participants have unmet learning disability and literacy support needs, but just over nine per cent of participants require mental health support which is not provided. This is increase on the last reporting period of 2%.
Chart 11: Housing First participants with multiple support needs.
Support 1-5 Areas 13%
Support 6-10 Areas 47%
Support 11-15 Areas 36%
Support 16+ Areas 4%
Chart 12: Support to Housing First participants by provider.
Third and Independent Sector 63%
Health and Social Care Partnerships 57%
Alcohol and Drugs Partnership 56%
Mental Health Service 40%
Other 18%
Peer Support 12%
Chart 12 shows a breakdown of the services involved in delivering support to Housing First tenants. When compared to the data reported in the previous quarter, ‘mental health services’ are involved in the care of fewer Housing First participants. Similarly, ‘peer support’ is in place for fewer Housing First participants. There has been a slight increase in support provided by alcohol and drugs partnerships and health and social care partnerships.
Chart 13: Housing First participants receiving support from multiple support providers.
0 Support Providers 7%
1 Support Provider 26%
2 Support Providers 17%
3 Support Providers 23%
4 Support Providers 17%
5 Support Providers 7%
6+ Support Providers 3%
Chart 13 note: Informal support was also provided for 38%[7] of Housing First participants.
Chart 13 provides detail of the number of partners providing Housing First support. In 26% of Housing First tenancies, support was provided solely by one provider, likely where a local authority has undertaken a procurement exercise to commission Housing First support from an external provider. Seven per cent of participants were recorded as having no support provider. However, a significant proportion – 38% - receive informal support, which is a significant increase on 26% in the previous report.
Employment status
12 Housing First participants are currently employed on either a full time or part time basis. In addition, 11 participants currently undertake voluntary work.
[1] Housing First tenancies which started before 1 April 2021 and those part of the Housing First Pathfinder programme have been included in this figure.
[2] The overall numbers have been revised in line with the most up to date local reporting.
[3] The ‘step down’ process involves agreement from the tenant and lead support worker that support is no longer required and a regular check-up process is agreed so that support can re-engage if required. The ‘stand down’ stage occurs when Housing First support is no longer required.
[4] Tenancy sustainment rates are calculated by dividing the number of individuals who were still housed in a Housing First tenancy 12 months after they entered (since 1 April 2021) by the total number of individuals who have been housed at least that length of time and multiplying by 100. Tenants who have passed away are excluded from the denominator used in the analysis.
[5] Housing Options is a process, which starts with housing advice when someone approaches a local authority with a housing problem. This means looking at an individual's options and choices in the widest sense.
[6] Due the low numbers of ‘other’ gender identity this has been included with the next lowest figure.
[7] Year 2 Q4 – Chart 13 note stated 37% this was incorrect and should have stated 26%
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