A survey of housing associations has found that 42% changed their allocations approach during Covid-19.

The survey, conducted by the National Housing Federation, found that many of those who had changed approach were housing “more homeless people”.

The majority of respondents (82%) said they’d like to be able to do more to house people with the highest level of need. When asked what they’d like to have in place to support them in doing so, the most commonly cited reason was ongoing access to floating support (56%).

This was followed by:

  • Resettlement support (47%).
  • Building new homes that respond to local need (47%).
  • Hardship funds (42%).
  • Provide more social rent tenancies (42%).
  • Provide more supported accommodation (39%).
  • Use of Housing First (39%).
  • Giving homeless people higher priority in Choice Based-Lettings banding criteria (31%).

A third of respondents provide furnishing or access to it for their lettings. Much of this provision for furnishings was introduced prior to the pandemic. This was principally via partnerships with local organisations or housing associations’ own furnishings funds.

The majority of respondents (74%) anticipate increasing demand for social housing among people with rent arrears/higher support needs once the coronavirus support measures are lifted.

Looking beyond the pandemic, housing associations are planning to make a variety of changes to deal with this likely increased demand for social housing, and with the increased vulnerability of applicants.

These changes include:

  • Introduce or expand community/tenancy sustainability work, such as increased Money Advice provision and a commitment not to evict into homelessness should a customer engage with support.
  • Increase the supply of affordable housing and their supported living portfolio, such as through bids into the Next Steps Accommodation Programme (NSAP).
  • Work more closely with local authorities on housing rough sleepers and planning issues.
  • Review allocations policies to ensure that housing needs and housing demand are reflected in light of the pandemic, such taking on tenants with higher levels of debt.