Published: 07 December 2007
Support Independent Living
Communities Minister Baroness Andrews has announced £4.9bn funding for the Supporting People programme over the next three years.
The funding will help over a million vulnerable people each year, including victims of domestic violence, teenage parents, older people and those with mental health problems - enabling them to live independently in their accommodation.
Supporting People is a major part of the Government's drive to tackle social exclusion, deliver social justice and support the third sector in delivering vital services.
It supports over 800,000 older people, 40,000 single homeless people, 36,000 people with mental health problems, and 8,000 women at risk of domestic violence at any one time.
Under a major reform to improve the evidence for distributing the funding to councils, incorporating new up-to-date data and population predictions, the allocations are now based upon need rather than legacy, which the government claims is both fairer and a better use of public funds.
This first ever three year settlement for Supporting People, along side a radically slimmed down performance framework, which includes two performance indicators for housing support, will provide councils with:
· a much greater level of certainty of funding
· greater flexibility on spending and
· the ability to plan ahead & use money more effectively by entering longer term contracts to provide housing support services that will save money
Baroness Andrews said:
"The funding announced today will allow councils to continue helping over a million vulnerable people each year to live independently and break the cycle of deprivation and exclusion.
Improving the distribution based on need and providing greater certainty and flexibility will make this funding more effective.
Success depends upon continued effective delivery by councils and voluntary groups, and I challenge them to do more to improve the quality of services, value for money and unlock efficiency gains to ensure this money really delivers"
Further information
Supporting People programme
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