Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

This paper will set out how the US Jobs-Plus employment initiative could be adapted for public housing residents to the UK.  The authors have been working closely with the Greater London Authority (responsible for London government) to support the design of a Jobs-Plus programme in London housing estates, and with a coalition of social landlords and charitable foundations to develop proposals for a UK-wide demonstration project.

 The paper will describe the context and rationale for a UK Jobs-Plus programme, the evidence base from the US demonstration projects, and the key design features and theory of change for the UK model.

 In line with the US approach, the UK model will be based on a ‘saturation approach’ targeting neighbourhoods with high levels of social housing and low household incomes and employment.  It will include on-site employment services, financial work incentives, and a strong focus on promoting work-supporting social networks.  However there are also important differences in the UK housing market, labour market, and public service reform agendas. 

 First, the UK model will focus to a far greater extent on support for residents with health conditions and disabilities.  In UK social housing, residents are far more likely to have work-limiting health conditions, and to claim health-related benefits, than the wider out-of-work population.  Housing allocation policies have served to reinforce these differences, while successive attempts at welfare reform have failed to engage these residents in effective support.

 Secondly, the model will be rolling out alongside the introduction of Universal Credit – a new single benefit for those of working age, which will for the first time require social housing residents to manage their own rent payments.  The model therefore has a stronger focus on financial and digital inclusion.

 Finally, the paper will explore the differences between delivering a Jobs-Plus model in London and doing so in the wider United Kingdom – and in particular the challenges and opportunities of working in different housing and labour markets.