06 May 2026
A resident of St Albans-based homelessness charity Emmaus Hertfordshire spoke at the launch of Emmaus UK’s Rebuilding Lives report into the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023.
Rosemary Blazecovic told the Parliamentary meeting of her lived experience, how she has been supported by the charity at its St Albans community and what she would like politicians to consider as part of the new act.
She emphasised the importance of ensuring that supported housing prioritises dignity, stability and meaningful opportunities for people to rebuild their lives, as well as the need for consistent standards that genuinely reflect residents’ needs.
Rosemary also highlighted the value of long-term support, community and access to employment pathways, urging policymakers to listen to those with lived experience
when shaping and implementing the legislation.
The ‘Rebuilding Lives’ report has been shaped by the views, lived experience and research by Rosemary and other supported housing residents, including Emmaus resident David McCarrick, who also spoke powerfully at the event.
The report highlights key risks in how the act is implemented and sets out recommendations for national and local government.
The Act, which includes the introduction of National Supported Housing Standards for England and a new licensing regime, represents a crucial opportunity for the sector and is intended to stamp out rogue provision.
Emmaus Hertfordshire Chief Executive, Duncan Lewis said: “A huge thank you to Rosemary for sharing her valuable lived experience and perspectives for this important report – and for giving a very passionate and moving talk to those attending the launch. We are extremely proud of her hard work to ensure that the people who need supported housing are listened to and have their needs met.”
The event saw around 100 people, including MPs, sector partners and funders, join the EUK team at Portcullis House for an afternoon of speeches, networking and discussions about the future of supported housing. Also attending on the day were Emmaus Hertfordshire trustee Richard Belt and guest David Reavill, SADC strategic housing manager.
While the act is a positive step towards improving standards and tackling poor provision, Emmaus’ research shows there are still important gaps. These include funding pressures, lack of flexibility for people who need longer-term support, and the risk of inconsistent local implementation.
To read the report in full, click here: https://emmaus.org.uk/rebuilding-lives-emmaus-uk-report-supported-housing-act/
For an executive summary of the report, click here: https://emmaus.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Rebuilding-Lives-report-Exec-Summary-digital.pdf
