• Strong early evidence of improved outcomes for young people and families, including gains in employment, training, family stability and wellbeing
  
  
• Pilot estimated to generate £12.1 million in gross socio-economic gain, including £9.9 million for local authorities, and £3 of wider value for every £1 invested

Grosvenor Hart Homes (GHH) has published its interim socio-economic evaluation, setting out early evidence that its integrated model of high-quality affordable homes, tailored support and community connection is helping to improve outcomes for vulnerable children, young people and families while also providing the greatest estimated benefits to local government through reduced pressure on public services.

The independent interim evaluation by Sonnet, the social impact consultancy and community interest company, reviewed 23 households — including detailed analysis of 7 families and 10 young people, alongside a wider cohort of 13 families with 40 children in total. The review found firm evidence that Grosvenor Hart Homes’s innovative model is facilitating improved life chances for children and young people by combining a stable home with personalized, relational support, community connection, systems navigation and progression pathways. The evidence points to significant improvements in employment and training for young people, stabilising families with children, and a trend towards improved wellbeing.  

Across the households assessed, the model is estimated to generate £12.1 million in gross socio-economic gain, with £6.9 million attributable to Grosvenor Hart Homes after standard evaluation adjustments for outcomes that may have happened anyway or may be partly due to other organisations and support. The model is estimated to generate more value than it costs: around £3 of wider social and economic value for every £1 invested. The evaluation also finds that local government is the largest beneficiary, with £9.9 million, or around 82%, of estimated gross value accruing to local authorities, driven primarily by avoided costs in Children’s Services and reduced reliance on temporary accommodation.

Critically, the strongest evidence is emerging for young people, where the evaluation reports that 90% maintained or improved accommodation outcomes, 100% maintained or improved practical life skills , 70% were in full-time or part-time employment, and 30% had moved on into university, independent living or step-down arrangements.

For families, the evidence is less mature but equally encouraging (given that the current cohort has typically been at an earlier stage of engagement with Grosvenor Hart Homes), with 86% maintaining or improving family routine, 71% maintaining or improving measures linked to emotional wellbeing, children’s emotions and children’s learning, and 88% completing a mental health assessment. Community is also identified as a clear strength of the model, with 95% of tenants agreeing GHH makes a positive contribution to the neighbourhood and 97% saying they are treated fairly and with respect.

Helen Keenan, CEO of Grosvenor Hart Homes, said:
 “Too often, vulnerable children, young people and families are expected to navigate fragmented public sector systems at the same time as they are dealing with instability, trauma or poor mental health. Our model is built on a simple but important principle: a safe, stable home can create the platform for wider change when it is combined with trusted relationships, personalised, practical support and strong community connections.

These interim findings are an important reminder that earlier, more joined-up intervention can improve life chances while also helping local authorities use scarce public resources more effectively. Whilst this message is not new, we now have an evidence-based blueprint for delivering better outcomes at less cost.

Grosvenor Hart Homes currently delivers services to 69 households across Chester and Ellesmere Port. The interim findings position the model as a preventative, place-based approach with relevance beyond housing, including for Children’s Services, domestic abuse, homelessness prevention, SEND and education, mental health, employment and local economic participation.

• Grosvenor Hart Homes will discuss the findings at this year’s Local Government Association Conference, where Helen Keenan will co-chair a breakfast panel session with Cllr Louise Gittins, LGA Chair and Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, on Wednesday 8 July 2026, from 8am to 8:50am, at Hotel Collingwood, 11 Priory Rd, Bournemouth BH2 5DF.