In order to improve a shared understanding of need, and to help further identify and promote practice (with a focus in England), the Home Office, Communities and Local Government and the Ministry of Justice have employed two seconded housing and drug advisors - these were appointed from the housing and drug sectors respectively and are supported by a national working group.
GOSE works with the Home Office and regional housing partners both in strategy and delivery, looking at practices that deliver planned systems of housing for drug users. Innovative practice that addresses some of the challenges involved in planning, service delivery and monitoring outcomes has been a particular focus in 2007/08.
Housing Substance Misusing Offenders in the South East
The new Drug Strategy 'Drugs: protecting families and communities' supports a greater focus on throughcare and aftercare provision for drug misusing offenders.
A recent survey carried out across the South East established a 'picture' of wraparound provision for 2007-2008, highlighting potential areas at risk and the impact for DIP clients.
Housing provision and delivery unsurprisingly showed up consistently as a concern, identifying gaps between services, unclear pathways and general anxiety over capacity. However, data across the region does not seem to match these results. Since providing stable accommodation for drug misusing offenders is a fundamental component towards reducing reoffending we decided to commission a study, Housing Substance Misusing Offenders in the South East, to provide a clear picture on current structures and opportunities in the South East.
The study examines the level of housing provision across the South East for substance misusing offenders across the range of accommodation services, exploring how these are embedded in each local area (are they provided through core provision, specifically commissioned etc) and seeks to identify local blockages to providing services in line with need provided.
Eight case studies were also identified for further research and detailed descriptions along with examination of the partnership working involved in the projects and their strengths and weaknesses have been provided in Annex A of the report.
As part of GOSE's business planning for 2008-2009 we will be looking at the findings of this report with a view to considering how we might best take them forward.
Improving Practice in Housing for Drug Users: A partnership project
In July a multi-agency partnership report 'Improving Practice in Housing for Drug Users' was published. This report was written to support the development, planning and delivery of housing and housing support services for durgs users.
The findings presented in the report suggest that housing and related support services for drug users can contribute to improving outcomes on crosscutting areas such as preventing homelessness, reducing evictions and abandoments, increaisng engagement and retention in drug treatment, improving health and social well-being, reducing reoffending, acquisitive crime and the causes and effects of anti-social behaviour.
The report is primarily aimed at those involved in commissioning, planning and delivering:
It will also be of interest to anyone who comes into contact with drug users with related housing needs through:
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The criminal justice system
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Health and social care (hospital and community based services)
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Work with vulnerable groups
The focal point of this paper is a selection of 13 case studies which offer examples of how service users, providers and partnerships in housing, drugs and mental health, have worked together to find sustainable and successful housing solutions for drug users across all types of housing.
