‘Worst place I’ve lived’: Vulnerable left in unsafe homes

Jasmine Basran, head of policy and campaigns at homeless charity Crisis, said: “People who have already experienced significant disadvantage are being forced to live without adequate support in unsafe, unsanitary and frankly unliveable conditions.”

She said it was promising the government will be consulting on how to improve supported housing “but we do need to see progress on this – urgently”.

Charlotte Talbott, chief executive of Emmaus UK, said there were “far too many cases where individuals are let down by unscrupulous providers, with substandard support and accommodation having devastating consequences for those who depend on their services”.

The London Assembly described the sector as “unsafe and unregulated”.

Meanwhile, a 2022 BBC investigation found supported housing schemes across the West Midlands were riddled with crime, drugs, and a death in one case.

Yet despite years of concerns, action has been slow, something which does not surprise Rhys.

“It’s so typical from the government,” he said.

“Unfortunately, with supported accommodation and homelessness, it always seems to take a back [seat] in any government, Labour or Conservative.”

Bob Blackman MP, who drafted the Act, criticised the “snail’s pace” in enforcing it, adding action was needed urgently as the sector is a “ticking time bomb”.

The housing department said “it was right that decisions on the consultation were paused during the general election”.

They added that members of the panel “will be appointed in due course” after interviews closed this month.