What "home" means to people
Many people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness have multiple and complex needs, including mental-ill-health, substance misuse, experience of domestic abuse, involvement with the criminal justice system, or the challenges faced by young people leaving home and refugees.
To prevent homelessness from becoming entrenched, it is essential all people have access to the right accommodation, with the right support, at the right time; enabling them to stabilise their lives and move towards safe, settled housing.
People described home as somewhere they can feel safe and physically well, with working essentials and no hazards. The basics of warmth, dryness, security and safe electrics were described as central to being able to cope.
"Safe means no faulty wiring, no mould or damp that could affect me or my baby's health, and secure doors and windows."
"A nice flat that I could afford and pay all my bills. I have never lived long term anywhere, so to put down roots would be my ideal."
"A place they won't be forced to move on from again."
"I would love to have a house on a new estate and a good community where all the families are nice and there is no trouble. My house would have a garden for my daughter and it should be near a school as I do not drive."
Across our engagement, for people experiencing multiple disadvantage and homelessness, home is experienced first as safety, privacy and stability, rather than choice or aspiration. People’s expectations were often described in very basic terms — warmth, security, affordability and the ability to remain somewhere without fear of being moved on again.
The engagement highlights that housing systems are often experienced as high-pressure and low-choice, with people feeling they must accept whatever is offered even where it feels unsuitable. This undermines confidence and makes it harder to settle and sustain a home over time.
Our strategy will prioritise safe, stable and affordable housing pathways, clear communication and ongoing support beyond move-in, so that people can sustain tenancies and avoid repeated disruption.
Our aim is to ensure that everyone who is homeless, or at risk of homelessness, can access the right housing and support at the right time, so that homelessness is prevented wherever possible and does not become entrenched.
Temporary Accommodation (TA) currently absorbs the majority of homelessness demand, with limited step-down options for households who need more than emergency accommodation but less than institutional care.
This results in:
- longer stays in TA
- blocked move-on pathways
- repeat homelessness cases
- higher costs and less positive outcomes
Supported housing therefore plays a critical system role, sitting between crisis and independence.
Current council managed provision: Temporary Accommodation
| TA | Total number of units |
|---|---|
| Allerdale | 11 |
| Carlisle | 48 |
| Copeland | 11 |
| Total | 70 |
Estimated need of supported housing and accommodation
| Cohort | Share | Units (2030) |
|---|---|---|
| Young people | 30% | 28 |
| Housing First: complex need and criminal justice | 40% | 38 |
| Domestic abuse | 12% | 11 |
| Families | 18% | 17 |
| Total | 100% | 94 |