Book Review: Housing, Community Care and Supported Housing: Resolving Contradictions

Housing, Community Care and Supported Housing: Resolving Contradictions

Edited by Mark Foord and Paul Simic, Chartered Institute of Housing

ISBN 1903208394, £25

Star Rating: 3/5 

The subtitle indicates the specific benefit offered in the context of existing explorations of how the three sectors have developed an irresistible interdependence, writes Meic Phillips.

Its first part begins by offering students of the sectors clear understanding of the environment of joint working, joint funding and joint accountabilities.

The second part expands on themes for specific user groups; here the authors face the usual difficulties of addressing the dilemmas of ghettoisation in approaches and understandings.

Finding commonalities, it seeks generic lessons for a range of practitioners, exploring practical and transferable learning.

The final part addresses urban renaissance, community sustainability and strategic planning.

The final chapter is a bit of a gem, exploring the strategic planning yield of social capital with a systems approach.

Yes, much of this might at first sight appear to fall into the realm of jargon, but most of it is articulated rather well.

This is a substantial work that succeeds in delivering a comprehensive overview of the sectors. Students and professionals would gain much from it.

Meic Philips is assistant director of Epic Trust, a care and support provider in London.