Making the case for housing related support
In April 2009, the ring fence around Supporting People funding was removed. The £1.66bn was paid as a named grant in 2009/10 but will not be protected and from April 1st this year, the funding for housing related support will be paid through the area based grant, giving all local authorities the freedom to spend the money how they see fit locally. The removal of the Supporting People ring fence creates a significant risk that vital services for vulnerable people will suffer as funding is diverted away from preventative services to other priorities.
Many ERoSH members will be aware over the last few weeks the Isle of Wight plans to cut its SP budget of £5.5m by £2.7m. The National Housing Federation (NHF), along with other bodies and providers on the island have been campaigning to get the council to think again.
All local authorities will be forced to make some difficult budget decisions over the next few years and the removal of the SP ring fence means that some authorities will be tempted to spend this money elsewhere.
The NHF is asking that all members be alert to discussions and consultations in relation to SP budgets and budget cuts and urge you to alert the Federation if you think that significant cuts are on the way. The sooner the NHF hears about issues, even if they are only rumoured, the sooner it, other organisations and provider forums can act and hopefully influence the outcome.
To pass on any information on significant proposed SP budget cuts contact NHF Policy Officer Jake Eliot on 020 7067 1084.
Resources to help evidence the contribution of housing related support include:
Communities and Local Government (CLG), Research into the financial benefits of the Supporting People programme (July 2009).
As part of the Ministerial Working Group on Sheltered Housing, chaired by Lord McKenzie, the NHF was commissioned to produce a good practice guide on reshaping support in sheltered housing for housing providers and local authorities.
