Homeless Supported Accommodation Framework

The Council has statutory duties under the Housing Act 1996, as amended by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, to prevent homelessness and provide appropriate support including single adults and families. These duties require the Council to ensure access to suitable accommodation and support services that help people secure and sustain independent living.

The Council has a need to commission a range of homelessness support services which present an opportunity to review and reshape provision to ensure services continue to meet local need and deliver positive outcomes by establishing a Homeless Supported Accommodation (and related services) Framework.

The proposed Homeless Supported Accommodation Framework will establish a light touch flexible and compliant contracting mechanism through which the Council can commission accommodation-based support services for homeless adults and families. The framework will support the delivery of the Council's homelessness strategy and wider housing objectives by ensuring a sufficient supply of supported accommodation services capable of meeting current and future demand.

The framework will be designed to:

• Support the Council in meeting its statutory homelessness duties.
• Provide a consistent and transparent route to commission supported accommodation services.
• Enable access to specialist provision for people with complex needs.
• Support homelessness prevention, relief and tenancy sustainment outcomes.
• Reduce repeat homelessness and reliance on temporary accommodation.
• Deliver quality services that promote independence, resilience and positive move-on outcomes.

Homeless Service Model

The detail of the future Homeless Support model in Sunderland is being determined, however it will include services to provide supported accommodation, specifically adults and families who are experiencing homelessness and in some cases complex needs.

Services (lots) that are being considered under the service model are as follows:

• Dispersed accommodation with Floating Support (to include option for disabled access to dispersed)
• Temporary/Supported Accommodation for Single Homeless Adults
• Supported Accommodation for Young Adults aged 18-25 Years
• Supported Accommodation for Families
• Severe Weather Protocol (ad-hoc emergency call off for overnight concierge / warm & safe place)
• Housing First Models
• Supported Accommodation for women
• Ad-hoc homeless support services

The anticipated service outcomes will include:

• Prevention of homelessness and repeat homelessness.
• Increased rates of successful move-on into settled accommodation.
• Reduced use and length of stay in temporary accommodation.
• Improved engagement with health, substance misuse and mental health services.
• Increased income maximisation and benefit uptake.
• Improved tenancy sustainment rates at 6 and 12 months post move-on.
• Reduced rough sleeping and repeat presentations to Housing Options.
• Improved outcomes for families and children through timely access to settled housing

Please note this process is not a call of competition. Participation (or non-participation) in this market engagement will not disadvantage any supplier in any subsequent competitive procurement exercise, nor will it confer any unfair advantage. The Procurement is expected to be advertised on or around January 2027.

Please refer to the attached Market Engagement questionnaire advertised on OPEN for further

details.