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Friendly Landlord Initiative

What:Increasing the availability of alternative housing options for mental health service users.

Why:To improve care in the community and strengthen community support options.

How:Utilising private rental properties and providing low key regular social support for service users.

Target:Service users with high needs.

Where:Hawkes Bay region.

"Number one thing is you've got a home."
Social worker, Friendly Landlord Scheme  

The profile

The Friendly landlord Scheme is an initiative of Hawkes Bay District health Board (HBDHB) to transition people with high mental health needs from mental health units or residential homes into supported private rental accommodation.

The Friendly Landlord Scheme is led and coordinated by Needs Assessment Service Coordination (NASC). The scheme has four non-governmental providers (NGOs): Te Taiwhenua O Heretaunga, Whatever it Takes Trust, Richmond Fellowship, and Koha. These NGOs provide ongoing social support for the tenants, according to their specific needs. Such support is considered necessary for a successful transition to independent living.

The Friendly Landlord Scheme provides a rent subsidy to tenants who are frequent users of mental health services and experience barriers to securing accommodation. The subsidy helps tenants to secure accommodation in private market rental properties. The subsidy amount depends on both the individual's financial situation and market rent costs. The NGO providers negotiate with the potential landlords on behalf of the client and facilitate the move into rented accommodation. Thus landlords who participate in the scheme benefit from guaranteed rent and an assurance that tenants will receive responsive mental health service support, provided by community mental health teams.

The Friendly Landlord Scheme was a winner of New Zealand health innovations award in 2007 in the category excellence in rehabilitation.

‘"Friendly landlord initiative gives the client another choice."
Registered nurse, Friendly Landlord Scheme

The beginnings

In 2005, the HBDHB mental health services released Agenda for Action, a comprehensive action plan, developed through a four year consultation in the Hawke's Bay region and outlined activities to implement the concepts, outlined in the agenda.

The Friendly Landlords Scheme focused on three of the 29 recommended actions: developing accommodation options in the community, increasing access to support in the community and delivering individual packages of care. The development of the scheme was also supported by national and international evidence that good quality, stable, affordable accommodation strengthens and supports recovery for people with mental illness. The Friendly Landlord Scheme aimed to supplement the limited Housing NZ and local council options which had lead to long waiting lists for accommodation and frequent placement of service users in areas of low desirability.

Hawkes Bay DHB initiated the establishment of the Friendly Landlord Scheme. An initial meeting was held in 2005 between NASC and mental health related NGOs. The project group estimated the allocated funding could support rent subsidies and care for 20 to 30 placements.

In June 2005 NASC contracted a housing coordinator for one year to establish and build links with the housing sector. The first tenant was placed under the scheme in July 2005. Records were started to collect information about the number of Friendly Landlord Scheme tenants and associated costs to report on trends. Feedback, through informal discussions with tenants, NGOs and clinical services was sought to assess the impact of the initiative as well as to identify any issues or possible problems.

Initially it was difficult to attract landlords to the Friendly Landlord Scheme, however over time the situation has improved do to the successful negotiation between the housing coordinator and the landlords. Since March 2006 the Friendly Landlord Scheme has consistently reached its target of providing 20 to 30 accommodation placements for tenants who are high users of mental health services. Currently there are 37 service users under the Friendly Landlord Scheme.

"Because of their budget constraints users were forced to live in areas that aren't particularly good for their well-being"
Community support worker

The process

The Friendly Landlord Scheme consists of two parts: a rent subsidy and clinical/social support. Rent payments are put together through the tenant's contribution, WINZ accommodation supplement and NASC subsidy through the Friendly Landlord Scheme. There is a formal memorandum of understanding between WINZ and Hawkes Bay DHB regarding the provision of the subsidy. This subsidy is assessed on a case-by-case basis and varies from less than $20 to $ 70 dollars a week.

Weekly support hours are also based on client needs and vary between 2-15 hours a week. Hours are assessed on a case by case basis and change when the needs of the particular service user change. Social support is provided Monday to Friday only, with the aim of encouraging independency and problem solving skills.

Clinical support is provided by community mental health teams during the week. Crisis teams provide additional support on the weekend when required.

"Friendly landlord [initiative] gives us tools to provide options for our clients
that we wouldn't otherwise be able to."
Community support worker

Step by step

  1. NSAC receive requests for service users to be accepted in the Friendly Landlord Scheme. A key worker then forwards core documentation to the NASC team who assess the accommodation and care needs of the service user. Service users will be considered if they frequently use mental health services, give consent for the offered support, experience barriers for accessing appropriate accommodation, and have agreement about the proposed housing from the community support worker.
  2. A key worker, support worker and NGO provider are identified.
  3. An initial meeting is organised with the tenant, family and other supports, key worker, support worker and NASC. This meeting involves discussions about:
    • the scheme and process
    • expectations and responsibilities
    • the needs of the service user
    • desired living situation (shared or single)
    • location 
    • the service users' areas of strengths and required support.
  4. When suitable housing is located it is viewed by the tenant, NGO representative, key worker and NASC. The group discusses finances and agrees on the rent subsidy.
  5. The tenant and their support worker visit WINZ to request bond assistance and a relocation grant (if WINZ criteria are met) and set-up payment processes.
  6. A support worker assists the tenant to arrange contents insurance. 
  7. A review process is organised. The first review date is set within a month, with follow up reviews at least every three months.

Key rehabilitation values underpin the service delivery. These are:

  • being person orientated
  • focusing on performance on everyday activities
  • providing adequate support
  • being environmentally specific
  • involving the user in all aspects of rehabilitation
  • focusing on the service users preferences
  • assessing the impact of changes 
  • focusing on the service users success regardless of any current difficulties.

Ongoing progress monitoring of the Friendly Landlord Scheme service users is carried out, including things such as hospital admissions, hours of social support a week, activities of daily living, participating in recovery programmes and employment status. Results of the reports are used for service improvement and feedback to HBDHB.

"Before I was stuck in an emergency house. Now I live independently"
Friendly Landlord Scheme client.

The unique approach

  • The Friendly Landlord Scheme provides an alternative to state housing and supported living facilities.
  • The Friendly Landlord Scheme promotes stability through increased options and flexibility in housing for service users.
  • It opens opportunities for service users and reduces some of the stressors associated with independent living such as affordable independent flatting for one person, moving to a two-bedroom flat without the need to arrange a flatmate, reduction of financial pressure if one of the flatmates moves out, and sufficient time to make the best decision.
  • In most cases the level of support can shift with the changing needs of the client without having to move the client to a different type of accommodation. 
  • Service users are central to the process and decision-making.
"I was on 24/7 care, now I am on 4 to 6 hours support a week."
Friendly Landlord Scheme client.

The results

The Friendly Landlord Scheme continually monitors the service, using a well organised outcome tracking system. This is achieved by establishing a baseline and gathering continuous comparative data on a variety of psychological, social and physical measures.

Quarterly monitoring reports are sent to the executive lead via the service manager. These reports include information such as the current location of houses, average weekly subsidies, total costs and current support levels provided. In addition qualitative feedback is collected from service users and the staff that work closely with them.

The monthly reports showed significant improvement in the service users well-being such as:

  • After one year of running the Friendly Landlord Scheme a 60 per cent reduction of hospital inpatient bed-nights were seen for those who joined the scheme - 800 bed-nights over down to 321.
  • After one year of running the Friendly Landlord Scheme a 55 per cent decrease of hospital readmissions were seen - 11 down to 5.
  • Employment status - six of the current Friendly Landlord Scheme tenants work full-time or part-time, seven tenants have enrolled with an employment agency.
  • Six tenants are currently attending recovery programmes.

The initiative also contributed to other positive outcomes such as:

  • establishing a medication support group in 2006, aiming to meet the needs of the increasing number of independently living tenants
  • founding an independent living skills programme in 2007, providing opportunities to develop daily skills for people living independently in their own home
  • information sharing with other organisations, for example the NSAC team was able to provide Friendly Landlord Scheme information to other organisations such as Capital & Coast DHB, Tarawhiti DHB and NASC organisations throughout the lower North Island.
"They know they have their own flat which they're taking care of themselves and that builds up self confidence, improves their mental health and they can go on and get work and then disengage from the service."
Community mental health nurse

The lessons learnt

  • Tenancy support initiatives need to be carefully considered and structurally organised to avoid inappropriate use.
  • Contents insurance provides security for the Friendly Landlord Scheme tenants and landlords.
  • Tenancy contracts can encourage flexibility in interactions between landlords, tenants and different service providers.
  • Service users with drug and alcohol problems adjust to the scheme when they are provided with adequate level of support. 
  • Landlords are attracted to the scheme because the rent and tenancy are secure and there is assurance that the tenant has the required support from NGO and clinical services. 
  • Ongoing monitoring provides a solid basis for evaluating the effectiveness of the scheme. 
  • Collaborative between NGO, clinical services and service users has become a warrant for the better outcomes for the service users through the Friendly landlord Scheme.

More information

Contact

Website

Hawkes Bay District Health Board

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Friendly Landlord Scheme, more than a "rent subsidy scheme" (PDF)

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Page last updated: 7 November 2008