As demand for care and supported housing continues to rise across the UK, the number of available homes is falling, strained by funding cuts and mounting cost pressures. In response to the sectors call for urgent action to protect these essential services, our Chief Executive, Wendy Evans-Hendrick, welcomed Ipswich MP Jack Abbott to Christchurch House, one of our supported housing schemes.
Following the visit, we spoke with Wendy to understand why it was so important to give a local politician first-hand insight into the challenges and impact of supported housing and care services, and why advocacy at every level is crucial to safeguarding its future.
Why was it important to meet the MP
Simply put, we need a genuine commitment to care and support. The supported housing sector is in financial crisis and without urgent action and increased funding, its future is at risk. For too long, this sector has been undervalued, often overshadowed by the NHS when it comes to headlines and funding priorities. I want to be clear: I have immense respect for the NHS and the incredible work they do under incredible pressure. But I truly believe that a well-funded, effective care and support sector could save millions of pounds and help ease the burden on both the NHS and local authority services.
What are the challenges facing the supported housing sector?
Without increased funding, we risk losing a vital lifeline for over half a million people across England. These are individuals with a wide range of complex support needs who, thanks to supported housing, are often able to live independently in their own homes.
Too often, care and support is treated like the ‘Cinderella service’, overlooked, underfunded, and neglected despite its critical role in society. Tight budgets and difficult decisions continue to hold back progress in the sector. That’s why I’m passionate about championing care as a career. Our colleagues who work in care and support make a profound difference to the lives of the people and communities we serve, and it’s time care was recognised as a rewarding, valued profession, not just by those within it, but by society as a whole.
Why did you invite Jack Abbot MP to Christchurch House.
Christchurch House is an Orwell supported housing scheme that provides housing and support to single homeless young people aged 16 to 24. We offer them temporary supported accommodation alongside a personalised, outcome-focused support plan. Our goal is to help these young people find stability, build confidence and work towards independent living and planned resettlement within the community.
It was incredibly important to give the MP a first-hand look at what happens on the ground, to show him the realities of our work and the challenges we face daily. We wanted to highlight why care and support must be pushed higher up the government’s agenda.
Who did Jack meet during his visit?
Alongside Phyl Chigome, Service Manager at Christchurch House and I, Jack Abbott MP met two remarkable young men who bravely shared their personal stories. They spoke candidly about the importance of trust in support services, and how difficult it is to rebuild that trust after being repeatedly let down by promises that never materialise. They expressed a deep need for security and a reliable support network, something many in their situation are desperately searching for. They also emphasised how crucial access to skills and training is in helping them take their next steps with confidence and equity.
What did you hope to achieve from the visit?
Awareness and understanding are absolutely key. I felt it was vital to speak up about the current five-year review of social care, it’s simply not fast or responsive enough to meet the urgent needs of a sector already in crisis. At Orwell, we’ve proactively offered to be part of the review led by Baroness Louise Casey, Chair of the Independent Commission into Adult Social Care. We want to make sure our voice is heard and that the realities of the sector are fully understood and addressed.
On behalf of myself and everyone at Orwell, I’d like to sincerely thank Jack Abbott MP for taking the time to visit us and I hope the message of the need to champion the importance of care and support was clear. We need to secure the funding this sector deserves so that providers like us can continue helping people live safely, independently and with dignity.
Find out more information about our supported housing and care services.
