From research carried out in the second half of 2022, the Forum says that feedback from community-based housing associations was both powerful and thought-provoking, and that it believes the findings will resonate with colleagues throughout the housing association sector.

The report’s main conclusions were:-

• Tenancy sustainment pressures on housing associations are increasing, and have been exacerbated by the pandemic and then the cost-of-living crisis
• Whether provided as part of the mainstream housing management service, or as a separately staffed service, tenancy sustainment support is seen as critical to preventing homelessness among existing tenants
• Mental health issues feature prominently among those most in need of support: some are already ‘in the system’ but others are not and their only support is from the housing association
• Where HA staff have a single, named contact within Social Work, relationships are good, and the chances of engaging with the right services are enhanced
• Recent, new services such as the Complex Needs Service in Glasgow are very welcome and could make a real difference, but referral processes can be problematic and there are concerns over the threshold for receiving support
• The increasing pressures are having a profound impact on frontline staff, whose inability to access external support is leaving them vulnerable as they move far beyond the traditional model of tenancy sustainment activities
• There is a growing risk of burnout among staff as they seek less stressful roles in or outwith housing - this has a particularly marked impact on smaller associations who may only have a couple of housing officers

Colleen Rowan, research and policy lead at GWSF, said: “Given what our report has found, we think it’s imperative to ask how associations can maintain successful tenancy sustainment support in the future.

“At the local level in Glasgow, GWSF has a good relationship with the Health and Social Care Partnership, and will continue exploring how our member associations can better access critical support for their tenants, recognising the many competing demands on resources.

“And community-based housing associations will keep working with partners in the statutory and third sectors to provide support to tenants.

“However, the increasing pressures and overall strain on tenancy sustainment services can’t be allowed to carry on unchecked. Tenancy sustainment work helps the Scottish Government meet key objectives across a range of policy areas: we believe a key solution is for the SG to provide a central funding source, akin to the former Supporting People fund, made available directly to housing associations and others providing tenancy sustainment support, and not routed through local authorities (who don’t want to see their funding ring-fenced).

“We believe that this approach makes particular sense with the increasing prominence of homelessness prevention, and as the proposed new duties in the 2023 Housing Bill get nearer.

“Bearing all of that in mind, and with rental income under such acute pressure, we believe there’s an incredibly strong argument for centrally funded tenancy sustainment support, and we look forward to having those discussions with ministers.”