TAAGs have the unique ability to bring together the cross-section of people working on TA in one room, who often wouldn’t cross paths. With over 450 members from a mix of backgrounds, expertise and experience, ‘soft’ outcomes such as understanding different perspectives and relationship building are at the core of the TAAGs success.
Beyond this, by working collaboratively local areas are able to identify the solutions that fit their needs, ranging from the real nitty gritty issues for people living in TA, all the way to systems and structural change - it all depends on what works for the local area.
TAAGs also have the benefit of being part of the network across the country and can share learning, best practice and resources.
Examples of success stories from the TAAGs include:
Co-created standardised licence agreements for the TA providers to use when people are placed in their properties in Manchester
Specialised training for TA providers in West Sussex on better supporting people with multiple complex needs focused on Safeguarding Adults and creating Psychologically Informed Environments
Introduction of free WiFi in council TA properties after research by the Hackney TAAG, showing the negative impacts of digital exclusion
The Newham TAAG consulted on a new homelessness application form, and worked to support the translation into community languages
Quality and Standards Charter’s being embedded into the procurement processes to ensure commitment and accountability from the local authority, providers and third sector to work together to improve pathways and experiences for residents in TA
Brighton and Hove, Tameside, Bristol and Southwark TAAGs all directly feed into the delivery of the local housing, homelessness & rough-sleeping strategies
Gathering on the ground evidence for Justlife’s submission to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee inquiry into Housing Conditions in Temporary Accommodation
In addition to their locally focused work, TAAGs also inform national campaigns and influencing work through an advisory function to the Households in Temporary Accommodation All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), where Justlife serves as co-secretariat. By identifying shared issues and emerging themes across local areas, they can help shape the APPG's understanding of national challenges and priorities. For example, TAAG members contributed feedback to the recent Safe Campaign, drawing on their local knowledge and experience to highlight practical challenges in implementation and helping to identify potential solutions to address them.
To find out more about the TAAG, please get in touch with our TAAG Development Lead, Eve Elliott, eve@justlife.org.uk.
“I’m proud to sit on the West Sussex TAAG steering committee and to support the vital work of improving standards in temporary accommodation. Councils have a statutory duty to provide interim accommodation to vulnerable people facing homelessness, but the quality of provision can vary across the board. As a provider that strives to do things well, we believe the standard of provision should never depend on postcode, and we deeply value TAAG’s unwavering commitment to raising expectations and driving positive change across the sector.”
Marisa, Castle Accommodation - West Sussex TAAG
