NHF:Service providers stand up to be counted with over 70 events in the South East

Monday, 16 November 2009 12:00 AM

Hundreds of organisations throughout the South East work hard every day to help over 136,000 of the most vulnerable members of our communities enjoy independent and fulfilled lives. Between them they provide more than 2,700 services and last year over £189m was spent on housing support services in the region.

Crucial services provided range from foyers for young people, temporary accommodation for families, refuges from domestic violence and sheltered and extra care housing for older or disabled people. With recent changes to the way funding is allocated for these services, it's more important than ever that those that hold the purse strings are aware of the impact they are making. In fact, research from the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) shows that every pound spent on Supporting People saves £2.12 on other public services.

From today (Monday 16 November) a range of agencies throughout the region that provide this crucial support are standing up to be counted, organising a range of events and activities for the first ever South East Supported Housing Month (16 November - 11 December).

Councillors, MPs and other regional decision makers from agencies such as Government Office, the South East England Development Agency, Police and Primary Care Trusts, are being invited to take a first-hand look at these services in action, with visits to schemes and invitations to see presentations and meet staff and service users.

Coordinated by the National Housing Federation (South), the campaign comes after an announcement last year, which gives Local Authorities much more freedom to decide how they use 'Supporting People' grants. The removal of the ring-fence is aimed at giving councils the chance to be innovative in how they commission and provide services for vulnerable people.

Earlier this month the Federation welcomed the call by the CLG Select Committee for the greater protection of housing-related support to ensure funding is not diverted away from critical services for some of the most vulnerable people. The committee reported on its inquiry into the Supporting People programme on Tuesday 3 November, and has called on CLG to show how much money it provides to local authorities for housing related support, and for local authorities to report how they have used that funding. The committee also endorsed many of the concerns raised by the Federation about the delivery of the programme, following the Government's decision to remove the ring fence from the Supporting People grant.

Raife West, Chair of the National Housing Federation's South East Supported Housing Forum commented: "South East Supported Housing Month (16 November - 11 December) is an excellent opportunity for providers to join forces in the South East and highlight the contribution supported housing and support services make in the region. It will help to demonstrate the money that is being saved in other public services, as outlined in CLG's Capgemini report.

With the removal of the ring fence around Supporting People funding, it is vitally important that commissioners, MPs, stakeholders and Councillors are fully aware of the contribution that the sector is making in supporting and improving the lives of so many individuals in communities throughout the region."

For further information about South East Supported Housing Month please see the 'What Is It?' and 'Key Facts' documents issued alongside this press release.

To find out about events taking place in different locations across the region, please see the attached calendar of events. This is updated weekly in the events section of our website at www.housing.org.uk/south (direct link here)

To arrange interviews please contact:

Peter Jones, National Housing Federation Communications Officer (South)

Tel: 0117 9704644 / 07771 552090

Email: Peter Jones

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