What does ‘move-on’ actually mean?

If you work in housing or support services, you will probably hear the term ‘move-on’ regularly. Outside the sector, it may be less familiar.

It is generally used when someone is ready to leave supported or temporary accommodation and move into somewhere more permanent or better suited to what they might need next.

It can sound like a fairly simple process: someone receives support, becomes ready to leave and moves into a new home.

In reality though, there can be a lot happening between those points. Someone can be ready to move but still be waiting for suitable housing. Where they move can matter just as much as the property itself. Practical or emotional support may still be useful after they have moved.

And what greater independence looks like will be different for each person.

Being ready to move does not always mean there is somewhere to go

One of the biggest practical challenges can be finding somewhere suitable and affordable.

Homeless Link’s Support to End Homelessness 2025 found that, among the accommodation providers surveyed, 28% of people in the snapshot were waiting to move into more secure, sustainable housing. More than half of those waiting, 55%, had been waiting for six months or longer.

A lack of available social housing and private rented homes affordable at Local Housing Allowance rates were the two most commonly reported barriers.

Government research into supported housing has identified similar pressures. Its evaluation found that a shortage of suitable accommodation for people to move into can create blockages, leaving some people who are ready for independent living waiting in supported accommodation for a home to become available.

Our teams see what this can mean for people in practice.

Staff in our Salisbury supported housing services have spoken about how complicated applying for housing can be. People may need to understand which housing band they are in, search for available properties, place bids and meet particular criteria. Even when someone is ready to move, there may be many other people looking for the same limited number of homes.

As one member of the Salisbury team put it:

“Right now, in Salisbury, for every seven people there is one property.”

This can mean spending a long time searching and bidding without knowing when a suitable home will become available.

Affordability, location and the type of accommodation can all affect someone’s housing options. Their past can create further barriers when they are looking for a home.

Previous rent arrears, tenancy problems or experiences of addiction or homelessness can influence how somebody is perceived when applying for housing. In a system where many people are competing for a limited number of homes, our teams see how stigma and assumptions about someone’s past can create another barrier.

Jake, who was supported by our Salisbury service after experiencing homelessness and addiction, described how other people’s assumptions had affected the way he saw himself:

“I think after a while you just assume people have already made their mind up about you. They see the addiction, or that you’ve been homeless, and that’s it. You sort of start believing that about yourself as well.”

We see similar pressures elsewhere. At one of our supported accommodation services for autistic adults, people are usually expected to stay for around two years. Some have stayed longer while waiting for suitable housing.

Being ready to move and being able to move are not always the same thing.

Preparing for what comes next

There is no single checklist someone needs to complete before they are ready to leave supported accommodation.

At our supported accommodation service for autistic adults, residents are involved in deciding what they want to work towards. Support can include looking for housing, attending appointments, managing things at home or accessing the community. How that support is provided can also change according to the person.

One former resident wanted to become more confident with cooking. Staff helped them find and print recipes and they spent time cooking with a volunteer. Their family later gave them a cookbook.

As they became more comfortable following recipes themselves, they needed less help. Staff remember cooking becoming one of the things that helped them feel ready for their next home.

For another person, the priority might be managing money, travelling independently, attending appointments or learning to use a washing machine.

What someone wants to work on will depend on what they need and what matters to them.

Finding the right home matters

Where somebody moves can affect many parts of everyday life.

Staff at our supported accommodation service for autistic adults spoke about former residents who have moved nearby and been able to keep the same GP or pharmacy. Familiar shops, routes and places can provide some continuity when many other things are changing.

For somebody else, being close to family might be important to them. They may need to get to work or college, feel safe in an area, use public transport or stay connected to people and services they already know.

What happens after somebody moves?

Getting the keys brings a new set of things to deal with.

There may be council tax and utilities to arrange, furniture to find, a new area to get used to and different routines to establish. Sometimes unexpected things happen too.

The team at our supported accommodation service for autistic adults told us about one former resident whose electricity and water stopped working shortly after they moved. They returned to the service and spent some time in the familiar lounge and office while the problem was sorted.

The team can continue supporting former residents for around six months after they leave, depending on what the person needs. Contact might be more frequent at first and gradually reduce as they settle in.

Sometimes that contact is very simple. As the team explained:

“It might just be a cup of tea in a local park or coffee shop.”

It could also mean helping with a practical problem, checking how someone is settling in or providing some emotional support.

We see this in other Alongside services too.

At our domestic abuse supported accommodation services, support can continue for three months after a family moves into their new home. People might contact the team with questions about bills, settling in or practical issues.

As the team told us:

“Some residents stay in touch for years. Others prefer to move on completely and leave that chapter behind them. Both are okay.”

What does independence actually look like?

Having your own home does not necessarily mean that every part of life suddenly becomes easy or that someone will never need support again.

Support might be needed when something unexpected happens, to understand a bill or while getting used to a new home. For others, very little or no contact may be wanted once they have moved.

Most of us rely on other people at different points in our lives. Greater independence can include making your own choices, managing the things you can and knowing where to turn when you need help.

Moving forward looks different for everyone

Getting the keys to a new home can be a significant moment, but it doesn't tell us everything about what moving forward means to someone.

Across our services, we see people working towards things that matter to them, making choices about where and how they want to live, and deciding what support they want along the way.

Moving on is a term used by services, but people's lives don't fit neatly into a process.

Moving forward can be complicated, and it will look different for everyone.