We were asked a simple question: "What does René House need right now?"

The honest answer is complicated, and something we don't talk about enough: funding for support.

Here's the reality that most people don't know about supported accommodation: we're paid to manage properties, not to deliver support. But the support is required. It's literally a mandatory requirement of being a supported accommodation provider.

Let us explain how this works - and why it doesn't make sense.

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The Problem

René House receives funding from the local authority to manage our supported accommodation properties. But the support that our team delivers to residents? That's not funded.

We have a team of trained support workers and managers who oversee the support for all our residents across René House. We have to fund them somehow - but not through what we're paid by the local authority.

So there's a requirement that supported accommodation must deliver support. Without support in place, we don't get paid by the local authority. But that support itself isn't paid for.

There's a gap somewhere.

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Where The Money Actually Comes From

When it comes to funding our support team, that money comes from grant funding and, to be honest, scrambling to find the money from what we do get paid for property management.

Everyone we house needs support - that's why they're with us. But we have to figure out financially how we're going to support them without it being too much of a strain on our organisation. We need to be sustainable long-term to make sure we can deliver the support and the service that we do.

That money has to come from somewhere. It's just not coming from the local authority.

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Why Funding Would Help Organisations like René House

We deliver high-quality support to our residents.

We're proud of the work our team does day in, day out. But it could be better if it was actually funded.

If we were able to get proper funding - whether from the local authority where the responsibility truly lies, from businesses in the community, or from organisations that connect with what we do - we could do so much more.

More support workers. More time with residents. Better outcomes.

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What Happens Without Supported Accommodation?

The reality is, unless you have a deposit, money for moving costs, and first month's rent already sorted, you don't have many options right now.

Waiting lists in Nottingham are off the charts. The local authority is understandably trying to reduce their housing list because they simply don't have the capacity to help people who can't afford private renting. The fallback is council housing, but capacity there is limited too.

Supported accommodation exists as a specialist type of housing for people who specifically need it - people who need housing plus support. Some people are just in need of housing. Others need housing and support. Those are different needs requiring different solutions.

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Why Just Housing Isn't Enough

Research from organisations like Crisis and Shelter, and from universities, has proven that just putting a roof over someone's head isn't enough for some people. They require extra support to help them maintain their tenancy, build life skills, tackle social isolation, and move forward toward independence.

And it's not just about preventing homelessness - it's about giving people choices. Even when we offer housing to people with limited options, we're often surprised by the pushback. Maybe it's away from their support network, in a new area, or somewhere they have difficult history. Having options about where you live influences your outcomes and your outlook on the future.

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The Challenge For Organisations Like Ours

This is one of the hardest things about running René House: the government isn't going to change anytime soon. Not at a rate quick enough for that change to be felt.

Long-term, there needs to be proper funding structures in place. That's something government has to address.

But in the short term, organisations like René House are trying to provide options for people who require housing they can't find or fund themselves, and who also require support - whether that's mental health support, physical health support, help with learning difficulties, or support for people with backgrounds in the criminal justice system.

We're doing it. But we're doing it while scrambling to fund the very thing that's supposed to be at the heart of what we do: the support itself.

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What Needs To Change

The structural funding gap needs to be addressed. Support should be funded where support is required - it's that simple.

But while we wait for systemic change, organisations like René House rely on grants, community support, and partnerships with local businesses and individuals who connect with what we do and want to help.

If you're a business or organisation deciding where to direct your support, please consider supported accommodation providers like René House. We're filling a critical gap in the homelessness landscape - but we can't do it alone.

René House is a Community Interest Company providing supported accommodation across Nottinghamshire for adults transitioning out of homelessness. For more information about our work or to discuss partnership opportunities, contact info@renehousecic.com

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