About HCIP

• CLG invested £90m of capital funding over three years (2005/06-2007/08).
• The funding reflects the need to change the very nature of hostels to provide better opportunities for people who have experienced homelessness and prevent them becoming homeless again.
• Hostels will cease to be a place of last resort, but instead will be centres of excellence and choice which positively change lives.
• Re-modelling the space will allow staff to better address the needs of residents, link them into services and plan for move-on into more settled accommodation.
• Funding is currently allocated to around 80 projects in 34 English local authorities.
• Funding must achieve a significant change in the delivery of services, in tandem with improvements provided by the capital works, through improved employment, health, personal development and housing outcomes for residents.
• Hostels should reduce the number of exclusions and abandonments, through improved building design and service delivery.
• HCIP will enable local authorities to meet the targets and outcomes identified in their homelessness strategies, particularly around tenancy sustainment and the prevention of repeat homelessness for single people and former rough sleepers.
• HCIP is an important part of the CLG's homelessness strategy and the investment should contribute to the CLG's aim to reduce homelessness, help more people into settled homes and halve the use of temporary accommodation by 2010.
• It will help more people to move more quickly, and on a more sustainable basis, to independent living. In this way, a hostel can actually help to reduce an authority’s overall use of temporary accommodation.
• HCIP funding is for capital works to buildings, but will also facilitate a step change in the delivery of services in hostels.

What does the HCIP mean for hostels?

Hostel services should enable residents to move towards independent living, with support when appropriate, and to employment and/or training. There are three key areas – improving the building, developing and expanding services, and valuing and motivating staff. The hostel must be a place of change for its residents.

Outcomes to be delivered through HCIP

• Improved physical environment for residents and staff
• Demonstration of meaningful activity for residents within services
• Clear pathways to independent living for each resident
• Well-trained, motivated and supported staff
• Reduction in exclusions and abandonment amongst residents

CLG provides funding on the basis that there is evidence of a positive partnership between the local authority and provider/s, a project management approach to the building programme and agreed Supporting People funding or other revenue funding. In addition, the building design should facilitate improved service delivery.

Further information

• CLG booklet on the HCIP

• CLG policy briefing on the HCIP.

• January 2006 Inside Housing article on the HCIP