Charities call on MLAs to ‘Keep on Supporting People’

A coalition of charities and voluntary organisations has called on the Northern Ireland Executive to strengthen a programme that annually provides vital support to help more than 26,000 people in Northern Ireland live as independently as possible.

To protect Supporting People and to strengthen the campaign, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SupportingPeopleNI and use the hashtag #SupportingPeople on twitter.

The Supporting People programme, which provides some 882 housing related support services across Northern Ireland, equips vulnerable people to live independently and helps prevent problems that can result in hospitalisation, institutional care or homelessness.

Introduced in 2003 across the UK, the programme has dramatically improved the services available to a range of groups including older people, people with learning disabilities, and homeless people. Research has demonstrated that it is an ‘invest to save’ programme delivering net financial benefits by reducing demand on health, criminal justice and other public services.

However, funding for Supporting People schemes has now been frozen for seven years, a ‘real terms’ cut of over 20%. Now campaigners, representing the 106 Supporting People providers, have gathered at Stormont to seek assurances on the programme’s future. Supporting People is currently subject to a government review, and campaigners are also concerned about the potential impact of NI Executive spending cuts on the Programme.

Cameron Watt, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations

warned that the future of services relied on by thousands of people requires Supporting People to be strengthened as dedicated programme of housing support, and properly funded by the NI Executive:

“Supporting People has been an immense success, enabling thousands of people to sustain their accommodation and live with as much independence as possible. Service providers are committed to working with government in its review, but uncertainty on the programme’s future and a prolonged funding squeeze threatens the quality and viability of Supporting People services.

“Supporting People must be properly resourced to remain effective and continue delivering strongly for Northern Ireland. Inflationary uplifts are vital in the short-term, and we call on the NI Executive to recognise Supporting People’s value and commit to strengthening it as a dedicated programme of housing support.”

Ricky Rowledge, Director of Council for the Homeless Northern Ireland (CHNI), said:

“The quality of life for thousands of vulnerable people is heavily dependent on Supporting People. Without strong measures in place to protect services, there is a distinct danger that those in most need may lose out.

“The programme has been frozen for seven years which represents a cut in real terms by 20 per cent. Research on delivery in Great Britain confirms that Supporting People is worth every penny and saving taxpayers millions through avoidance of costly hospital admissions and reliance on other services. We cannot afford to risk the future of a programme that makes such a significant social and financial impact.”

Ends

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Notes to Editors

 

  • The ‘Let’s Keep on Supporting People’ campaign is supported by a broad coalition of charities and voluntary organisations. These include the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations (NIFHA), Council for the Homeless NI (CHNI); the Cedar Foundation; Depaul Ireland; Ark Housing; First Housing; Fold Housing Association; Helm Housing; Mencap; NIACRO; Niamh; the Simon Community and Ulidia Housing Association.


What does the Supporting People Programme do?

Introduced in 2003 across the UK, Supporting People equips 26,000 vulnerable people in Northern Ireland to live independently and with dignity in the community. Supporting People funding also underpins most of the care and support services provided by local housing associations and their wide range of charitable and statutory partners.

Supporting People funds housing related support services that a landlord (such as a housing association for example) or other provider such as a voluntary organisation can provide. Support means advice and help to make it easier for vulnerable people to maintain their independence in their home or to develop the skills to do so.

People can receive support in a hostel or in sheltered housing or other type of supported living. Support can also be provided to people in their own homes through floating support services. This can include:

  • someone to support people to manage their money and pay their bills;
  • a warden or scheme manager who is there in case people need help;
  • someone who helps people to live independently;
  • someone who helps people learn how to follow the rules in their tenancy agreement; and
  • someone who provides advice or assistance on a range of housing related matters.
Last updated 9 years 5 months ago