Targeting older people with housing advice

Targeting older people with housing advice

Existing research on the prevention of homelessness in later life shows that 50% of older people who became homeless in later life did not seek advice. Strategies need to be developed to identify and reach those people and to ensure that prevention of homelessness is an issue advice services targeting older people have the capacity to handle.

Housing advice for older people, an Age UK  publication, identifies three broad groups of older people likely to need different types of advice:

1. Those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness who need help to challenge eviction proceedings, advocacy with homeless persons units and support to find more appropriate housing.

2. Housed older people who need help to stay in their own home

3. Housed older people who prefer, or accept the need, to move.

Research suggests that older people tend to seek advice from family, friends who may not have access to accurate information and there may also be emotional or financial considerations that prevent them from giving impartial advice.

The other source of advice is frontline staff with whom they are already in contact, home care staff, sheltered housing scheme managers or day centre workers  but again, these people may not be aware of the range of options, issues and services available. 

Rent arrears - Pre-action protocols

Rent arrears are one of the most common factors behind homelessness. Since 2006 all social landlords are required to show that in the case of rent arrears they have taken certain steps outlined in the pre-action protocol before taking posession action. Many of the requirements were already standard practice, such as sending regular rent statements and writing to the tenant as soon as arrears appear on the account. However some requirements such as ensuring that the information is communicated to the tenant in appropriate way if they have difficulty reading or understanding the information,and a requirement to consider any specific vulnerabilities and to signpost the tenant to seek assistance form advice agencies do afford extra protection to older people. Some housing authorities have built into policy that older people will never be evicted, in terms of preventing homelessness this is the most effective approach. 

Harder to reach groups

Within the three groups identified there will be people who are harder to reach: 

• older private tenants 
• older owner occupiers , 
• BME elders,
• older people in rural areas
• alcohol dependent older people
• older LGBT people
• older people with mild learning disabilities,
• older people with literacy issues

This is not an exhaustive list and obviously there will be some overlap across those groups. As stated in Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods, the government housing strategy for an aging population 'proper access to advocacy and advice is even more important in hard-to-reach groups such as homeless people or those at risk of homelessness. Some may have special needs or be suffering chaotic lifestyles and there are often many hurdles to jump, with little or no chance of them navigating the system on their own’.

Older people in the private rented sector

Data from the last census (2001) indicates that around 8% of pensioner households live in private rented or rent free accommodation. There are a number of reasons why targeting this population with housing advice can be effective in preventing homelessness:

• They are more likely to be living in properties in poor repair or lacking facilities. The highest proportion of dwellings that fail the fitness standard are in the private sector.
• They are also more likely to be vulnerable to harassment or abuse by landlords or other tenants.
• The reasons that bring some older people to the private rented sector suggests that there may be a high proportion of vulnerable people in this group e.g. retired migrant workers, people with substance misuse or mental health problems or people who have been in prison.
• Eviction from the private rented sector is a common cause of homelessness cited in homelessness strategies.
• Older people are more likely to have regulated tenancies and stronger legal rights and so benefit more from advice.

Older owner occupiers

• Three quarters of older households in the UK are owner- occupied though this decreases to 63% in the over 85's.
• People aged over 60 years and living alone are more likely than any other household types to live in non -decent homes.
• Non take -up of pension credit is estimated to be substantially higher among older owner -occupiers

• Care and Repair have produced a very useful pack on advising older people on their housing options which is free to download. A self training module for advisers

BME elders

In London there was a predicted threefold increase between 1991 and 2011 of BME elders (Age Concern 2005). Current housing advice services are not meeting the needs of BME elders, many of whom have complex housing advice and practical support needs.

Research has identified:

• high levels of low income and low equity home ownership among some BME groups
• major communication and cultural barriers preventing older people from BME communities from accessing mainstream housing advice and related services
• A  paucity of suitable and culturally appropriate alternative housing options including supported housing
• Providers of services need to give particular consideration to delivering services, advice services and home support services in a culturally appropriate manner and through existing community networks.

Older people in rural areas

• There is a growing proportion of older people living in rural areas
• Many rural areas will increasingly face challenges in delivering services for older people
• Socially excluded older people can be hidden from view in rural areas
• Changes in the population in rural areas, the absence of affordable and accessible transport and re-organisation of services means that many older people experience difficulty in accessing public services.

Alcohol dependent older people

Alcohol dependence is a hidden issue among older people and on the increase. Foundation 66 recently highlighted an epidemic of ‘late onset’ alcohol misuse among over-60s who turn to drink after retirement. Housing officers will often have this group brought to their notice due to complaints of anti social behaviour. It is important that the support needs underlying this are recognised more widely.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender older people

There are some housing issues specific to LBGT older people or which affect them more:

• LGBT older people may experience a lack of confidence in approaching mainstream agencies with issues that entail being out about their sexuality/ gender identity.
• inheritance and the passing on of property between partners, especially if they have not entered a civil partnership
• housing choices in later life and the difficulty for some LGBT older people moving into care and support options where they feel isolated or their sexuality becomes invisible
• dealing with homophobic harassment

The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 make it unlawful for public authorities to discriminate when providing public services. This covers the work of local authorities including housing services. For more details see Stonewall's website and a paper by the International Longevity Centre on housing issues affecting the older LGBT community.

Research suggests that there is a need for specific services targeting the LGBT community but that staff training, displaying LGBT friendly signs, publicity and partnerships with LGBT organisations all improve access to advice.

 Older people with mild learning disabilities

Research has revealed a small but significant number of people with mild to moderate learning difficulties who appear never to have been in touch with services and who have become homeless following the death of parents who were their carers. This is most likely to occur when the parents have been owner occupiers or private rented sector tenants and have managed the care of their son or daughter into old age without any recourse to services. Anyone with moderate or severe learning difficulties should be on the radar of the local authority and a plan should be made for them ahead of time. People with milder learning difficulties in this situation may come to light through different routes but will clearly be vulnerable and need intensive housing support initially to manage independence.

Older people with literacy difficulties

Research by the National Adult Literacy Agency reveals the many coping strategies older people use to disguise having a literacy difficulty. These strategies include reliance on a spouse who reads and writes on their behalf, honing memory skills and avoiding situations where literacy and numeracy are required. It was found that these strategies can be extremely fragile and when they collapse it can become a major crisis for the person involved. This crisis can include potential homelessness for instance if a partner dies and they cannot read letters about arrears or benefits and do not seek help. Older travellers are particularly likely to have missed out on formal education and to have a lack of literacy skills.

For all these groups, and for older people in general, it is vitally important to offer advice in a way and in a place that makes it accessible for them. The next page explores the features of accessible advice services for older people.