Supporting People
What is Supporting People?
Supporting People is a national policy initiative led by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), now the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) developed over a five-year period, which went live on the 1 April 2003. Supporting People is an amalgamation of a number of different funding sources that were aimed at providing 'housing related support' to people who needed help to find appropriate accommodation, to settle into stable accommodation, to learn to live independently or simply to maintain their current circumstances in their daily lives.Supporting People focuses on 'housing related support' only and not care or personal care, which is funded by other agencies.
National Supporting People Website
For detailed policy documents and further information in relation to Supporting People, go to Supporting People.The Durham SP Team have their own pages on this website. Simply go to "Your Local Area", "North East", and then choose "Durham County Council".
What is 'Housing Related Support'
Some people require support to help them live independently, to find suitable accommodation, to settle into stable accommodation, to learn to live independently or simply to maintain their current situation in their daily lives.Examples of 'housing related support' are:
- Help provided by a warden in sheltered housing.
- Community Alarm services.
- Help for young people leaving care to prepare for independence.
- Support for people who have been homeless to help them set up and manage their home.
- Hostels and independent living schemes where people have access to on-site support staff.
When Might People Need 'Housing Related Support'?
Some people need support within a specialised supported housing scheme while others need support to help them maintain independent living in their own homes in the community. Some people need long-term or permanent support while some just need short-term help to support them through a crisis.People who may need 'housing related support' include:
- Older people.
- People with mental health problems.
- People with learning difficulties.
- Homeless people.
- People leaving prison or on probation.
- People with drug or alcohol problems.
- People fleeing domestic violence.
- Young people leaving care.
What was Happening before Supporting People?
Prior to 1 April 2003, ‘housing related support’ was being paid by Housing, Housing Benefit, the Health service, the Probation service, voluntary agencies and charities, Social Care and Health (formerly Social Services), and the Housing Corporation.The Government decided to amalgamate the ‘housing related support’ costs from these different funding sources into one fund called the Supporting People Fund. This new fund pays for ‘housing related support’ services across County Durham from 1 April 2003 that was identified from the above organisations.
What does it Cost?
Nationally, ‘housing related support’ was costed at £1.72 billion for 2005 - 2006, with £14.6 million for County Durham for 2005 - 2006.Who looks After this Money?
The Durham & Districts Supporting People Partnership (DDSPP) has been established to administer the Supporting People Fund and manage the Programme.What are the Aims of the Supporting People Programme?
The programme aims to improve ‘housing related support’ services that are provided to vulnerable people.This will be achieved by:
- Focusing provision on local need.
- Improving the range and quality of services.
- Integrating ‘support’ with wider local strategies.
- Monitoring quality and effectiveness.
- Introducing more effective decision making and administration.
- To work together with other statutory and voluntary agencies, with all service providers and those people receiving ‘housing related support’ to decide how the Supporting People Fund should be spent.
