1 October 2008 : Press Release
MP urges review of Sheltered Housing policy
Geoffrey Cox, MP for Torridge and West Devon has expressed
concern that, as a result of the current funding system for
those living in sheltered housing, consistent help and
support from wardens within sheltered housing is being
phased out and replaced with non-resident “roving wardens”
called “floating support”. The MP believes that in many
cases, permanent resident wardens are necessary to give
elderly and vulnerable people the security they need. He
has written to the Secretary of State for Work and
Pensions, James Purnell MP and has raised the issue with
local Housing Associations, including Tarka Housing.
The government introduced “Supporting People” in 2003,
which meant that funding was separated between funding for
Housing Support, and funding for Housing Management
Services. As a result the role of sheltered housing
wardens, who provide both management and support, has
become confused. Housing support funds were reduced,
leading to the phasing out of wardens, and a dependence on
“floating support”. Housing providers are then left to
deliver management services separately.
However, according to the charities Age Concern and Help
the Aged, the roles between services have not always been
clearly defined, resulting in an overlap of
responsibilities and a lack of care. The MP has received
numerous letters from worried residents and relatives in
Torridge and West Devon.
Geoffrey Cox MP said: “According to Sheltered Housing UK,
floating support is certainly not the same thing as a
warden; they do not visit people in sheltered housing
unless ‘on their list’. Once a problem is rectified, that
person is taken off the list, and the floating support
“floats away”.
Mr Cox continued: “I feel very strongly that the proposed
floating support scheme will simply not meet the needs of
many of the elderly living in sheltered housing and could
result in a serious detrimental effect on the welfare of
residents. I have taken the issue up with the Secretary of
State and urged him to review the policy.”
This article has be
reproduced by the kind permission of Geoffrey Cox, QC,
MP