1. Conty Context Housing Finance Ltd
Presentation to Kent Housing Officers Group
16th May 2018

2. Introduction to Context Housing Finance Ltd
CHF is a company set up to deliver supported housing options without any need for grant funding.
There are three partners who run CHF
Ian Weightman – Chief Executive
Rob O’Flaherty – Finance Director
Tony Draper – Marketing Director

3. Need for Supported Housing
There is a significant shortfall in provision of quality homes for people with support needs in terms of:
learning disability
physical disability; and
mental impairment
These groups are seen as a particular concern by both local and national government.
There is a chronic shortage of suitably supported Local Authority accommodation and an insufficient Registered Provider sector.

4. Need for Supported Housing
The Kent Adult Accommodation Strategy: Evidence Base assesses identified needs in 2014 as:
Needs Group
KCC Caseload
In Residential Care
In supported Housing
On LA’s Housing Register
Learning Disability
4447
1210
840
670
Mental Health
3500
230
240
N/A
Physical Disability and Sensory Impairment
6000
280
210
260

5. Need for Supported Housing
The Kent Adult Accommodation Strategy: Evidence Base assesses increases in need by 2031 as:
Needs Group
Overall Population Increase
KCC Caseload increase
Learning Disability
6000
600
Mental Health
11,700
1,400
Physical Disability and Sensory Impairment
200

6. How is CHF assisting in meeting the supply gap?
CHF is working with KCC Adult Services in meeting identified needs
Context Housing Finance (CHF) has developed a model of funding and delivery to meet these needs
CHF acts as Programme Director and lead company in bringing together a number of organisations that plan and deliver supported housing properties in order to meet identified housing needs
We are partnering with Reside Housing Association who are registered on the KCC framework

7. Reside Housing Association
Reside Housing aims to provide good quality housing with support designed to meet the choices and needs of their tenants
Their mission is to enable tenants to have control over their lives and in their own homes
To achieve these objectives, Reside partners, consults and contracts with many local authorities, local and national care providers, tenants, their families and brokers
At the end  of 2016‐17 Reside had 1,155 properties under management   

8. Our Approach
CHF leads on the development of models that can provide supported housing:
a full programme structure
project management
satisfactory delivery of the programme
funding
CHF introduces key partners that facilitate aspects of the programme delivery.
CHF introduces its key partners at the relevant stage to perform their defined tasks in delivering the Supported Housing Programme.
CHF and its key partners bring together a wealth of specific industry experience.

9. Funding
CHF works with a range of private sector investors, banks and institutional funders
For this programme, we have secured an initial £40M investment from private sector investors
We have a committed bank funding of a further £10M
We anticipate further funding to meet needs from investors

10. Proof of Concept
The Company has developed 2 supported housing sites in conjunction with a development partner to provide a “Proof of Concept” for the financial and delivery models.
The first site to be completed consists of 6 self-contained one bedroom flats for supported housing tenants and a studio for the on-site carer. The building was formerly a Public House which was re-developed, completed and occupied
The site has been fully tenanted since completion with a 25 year lease in place.

11. What is the cost to KCC and DC’s?
There is no cost, other than:
Officer time spent reaching agreements
Officer time spent in commissioning services

12. What is the Benefit to KCC and DC’s?
Working to deliver a number of strategic objectives i.e.
Meeting the need for good quality supported housing
Meeting the need for good quality specialist care provision
Achieving capital receipts for a council from sale of assets if they wish to explore this
Achieving new homes bonus for new properties built and empty property bought back into use for DC’s
Increased Council Tax revenue
Efficiencies achieved through reducing the number of empty homes, meaning staff resources can be targeted elsewhere
Reducing issues of anti-social behaviour linked to empty property.

13. Why are CHF talking to KHG?
KCC have advised they are looking for accommodation to the West of Kent
We are interested in large empty buildings that can be converted. Either LA owned where they wish to dispose or an empty building that they would wish to see brought back into use and the owner is willing to sell.
We are also interested in sites that Council’s may wish to dispose of and where planning approval for up to 16 units of supported housing in Core and Cluster units would be granted.

14. Why are CHF talking to KHG? (2)
In Better Homes : Greater Choice the Kent Social Care Accommodation Strategy the Kent Planning Officers Group provided support and engagement in the development of the Strategy and the implementation.
Going forward, it needs to be established how strategic housing managers are influencing planners to ensure that supported housing needs are considered as part of s106 agreements.
This can be supported with organisations like CHF being willing partners in acquiring supported housing required under s106 agreements

15. Contact Details Ian Weightman – ian@contexthf.com –
Rob O’Flaherty –
Tony Draper –