Funding Initiative - Social and Sustainable Capital for Homewards BCP

Market Interest - Funding Initiative - Social and Sustainable Capital, Homewards, BCP Council

Lloyds Banking Group will provide an initial £50 million in new lending to support small and medium-sized housing providers and charities to develop, or purchase supported housing in the 6 Homewards locations, including Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP). SASC, (Social and Sustainable Capital), a well known social investment organisation specialising in supported housing, are working collaboratively with Lloyds Banking Group to provide additional expertise and project management support and to identify potential participants.

You will all be aware that increasing the supply of supported housing for single people with support needs is a key strategic priority for the council. This initiative represents a unique opportunity to scale up supply and for organisations to increase their asset base.

As the Strategic Housing Authority, BCP will work with housing providers and SASC as an enabler to support the successful and sustainable delivery of projects. As a result of our needs assessment and strategy work we would be keen to see a range of projects (reflecting a psychologically informed environment) developed across the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole areas including:

• Self-contained Housing Led and Housing First type developments including dispersed and properties in blocks
• Accommodation for young people experiencing homelessness including care leavers
• Specialist and supported housing for women including those with complex needs
• Self-contained step down accommodation supported by a floating support model
• Self-contained Safe Accommodation

Where accommodation is provided in blocks there would be sufficient space to facilitate group work and peer support as well as individual support within the self-contained accommodation.

Whilst provision is needed for single people with support needs there will be a proportion of couples requiring accommodation and recognition of the small details such as acceptance of pets.

Below are some key eligibility criteria for the Lloyds funding. They are guidelines not hard and fast rules so, if your organisation doesn't quite meet the criteria but is close, please do make contact:

• Minimum turnover/income: £1m
• Some experience of owning and managing housing (owned property assets of at least £400k)
• Minimum five years of audited accounts.

If you do not meet the eligibility criteria and are still interested in developing your supported housing offer, please register your interest with SASC (details below) and your details will be captured for communications around further funding initiatives and support Homewards may develop going forward.

Please can all interested providers contact tracey@socialandsustainable.com to learn more about the scheme.