‘Too much sheltered housing lies empty’

A homelessness project launched this week is calling for
policy-makers and providers to think more “creatively” about
meeting the needs of older people.

The Coalition Older Homelessness Project (COHP) says that the needs
of older people are being ignored by policy makers and that too
much sheltered housing lies empty.

COHP will take forward work carried out over the past four years by
Help the Aged, the Housing Associations’ Charitable Trust (Hact)
and other specialist agencies.

Hact director Heather Petch said: “Older homeless people are
neglected when it comes to policy-making and yet it is estimated
that 48,000 older people are homeless in England and Wales.”