Mr. John Rogers:

On a related issue, there is a format in regard to housing for a small cohort of our service users. Having gone through short stay accommodation in a group setting, that might be the preferred and appropriate form of accommodation for those residents. There can be issues in that regard as there is a gradation of support. The first tenant will get a certain level of allowance but that diminishes for the second and third residents. This puts pressure on funding for us because our ability to provide enhanced estate management and support services in those settings is compromised. The amounts of money involved are relatively small amounts but we can find ourselves in a situation where the resourcing to support a tenant is under pressure. In many cases, residents are leading that desire to live in a grouped accommodation setting.

Dr. Burns referred to the capital advance leasing facility, CALF, system. This is a system we have used quite effectively to develop new stock but currently it is difficult, if not impossible, to apply the CALF system to group housing accommodation. If CALF was available in specific circumstances, it would be of particular benefit to groups we deal with for the type of accommodation appropriate to long-term needs for residents.