As the National Housing Federation's (NHF) first ever Supported Housing Week draws to a close, have a read of what we have been doing at Alpha to celebrate and highlight the work by supported housing providers.
19-23 October 2026 has been the NHF first Supported Housing Week to raise awareness of supported housing to shine a light on life changing services, really show why the system must work better, and make ambitious calls for key solutions to secure the future of supported housing.
A supported home is a lifeline for thousands of people each year who need help to live independently. At Alpha, we specialise in delivering supported housing to people over 55 years across our sheltered and extra care housing schemes by helping our residents to live independently for longer.
Liverpool City Region Housing Association (LCRHA) Supported Housing Event
On Monday, Sarah Houghton-Grimshaw, our Director of Operations joined several other housing associations from across the region to celebrate the critical difference that supported housing makes to the lives of thousands of people. The event was held at the Torus Foundation's FireFit Youth and Community Hub in Toxteth.
Colleagues from the Combined Authority, Homes England and the NHF joined the event and heard directly from residents about their lived experiences and the positive impact that supported housing was having on their lives.
Alpha's very own resident (and Board Member) Veronica Cuthbert, from our scheme at Edel Quinn House in Upton also shared her experiences.
Our resident and Board Member Alison Tattersall, also joined the celebration.
At the end of the day, Danspiration provided an inclusive dance workshop promoting health, wellbeing and community engagement through dance and movement.
Paul Buntin, Interim Director of Housing and Regernation for Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Anna Spencer, Housing Development Manager for Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Christine Hill, Homes England
Andy Lomas, Chair of the LCRHA Supported Housing Group, and Chief Executive of Magenta Living
Danspiration
Alpha Managers Values and Culture Workshop
On Tuesday, our managers met to focus on our values and culture to make sure we are all delivering the very best value-driven service to our residents in all our services, to walk in their shoes, keep ourselves performing at our best to support some of the most vulnerable people in supported housing.
Senior Leadership Team Strategy Day
On Thursday, our senior leaders Sally Parsons, Jess Williams and Sarah Houghton-Grimshaw met off-site to visualise and plan Alpha's longer-term future, to ensure our services remain viable, contemporary and desirable to the older people of the future.
At Alpha, we believe that the best services for residents are those designed with residents. To that end, we are currently co-producing our new Resident Engagement and Influence Strategy with our residents, which will be launched in the Spring.
"Supported Housing Week provides an opportunity to highlight the vital role Alpha Living developments play in enabling older people to live independently for longer. Through high-quality homes, safe environments, and access to flexible care and support, residents can maintain their independence while having the reassurance that help is available when needed.
Our developments are about much more than housing. They are vibrant communities that foster friendship, connection, and a sense of belonging. By creating opportunities for social interaction and community engagement, supported housing helps to combat loneliness and social isolation, supporting both mental and physical wellbeing and enabling residents to remain active members of their local community.
Supported housing also delivers wider benefits for health and social care services. By providing the right level of support in the right environment, it can help prevent crises, reduce avoidable hospital admissions, and support timely hospital discharge when required. This proactive approach not only improves outcomes for residents but also contributes to a more sustainable use of adult social care resources."
At Alpha Living, we see every day how supported housing empowers older people to live with dignity, confidence, and choice. It enables residents to remain in their own homes for longer, maintain control over their lives, and access personalised support when they need it, creating stronger communities and delivering lasting benefits for individuals, families, and public services alike.
