Supporting people programme is good value for mental health, says new study

14 September 2004

Cuts in the funding of housing-related support threaten to undermine the Government's efforts to promote independence among people with mental health problems, according to a briefing paper published by the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health (SCMH).

The briefing paper shows that the Supporting People programme, begun last year, has offered a lifeline to people who may otherwise lose their homes or have to spend too long in hospital. The programme, which offers people practical support with their housing, began in April 2003 but has recently been cut back following government concerns about how some authorities are using it.

Much of the Supporting People budget is spent on 'floating support' workers, who help people with practical matters like benefits, home repairs and shopping. This can make all the difference for many people to keep their homes and live more independently.

Supporting People funding has also enabled many residential homes to de-register and offer their residents proper tenancies. As a result, they have more legal rights and greater financial freedom. Yet this move has been seen by critics as an example of local authorities using Supporting People funds opportunistically.

Angela Greatley, acting chief executive of SCMH, said: "The Government's recent decision to cut Supporting People funding over each of the next three years is extremely worrying. Housing-related support offers people with mental health problems a real chance to get their lives back. And it has enabled thousands of people living in residential care to become tenants in their own right.

"Supporting People services have been of especial benefit to people who traditionally fall into the gaps between services, such as those who have mental health problems and who use drugs or who are the victims of domestic violence. Cuts in the Supporting People budget could hit these people hardest if they force authorities to impose ever more restrictive conditions on access to services.

"It is vital that the effects of reducing the Supporting People budget are carefully managed and tightly monitored to ensure the people who need the services most are not made to suffer."

Download the briefing paper (164 KB)

Notes for Editors

Some facts about Supporting People:

  • The Supporting People programme began in April 2003. It funds housing-related support to a wide range of people.
  • In its first year of operation, 2003/04, Supporting People cost £1.8 billion, of which £250 million was for people with mental health problems.
  • The Supporting People budget for 2004/05 was frozen at the same level.
  • On 31 August, the Government announced that next year's Supporting People budget would be reduced by £80 million and that the budget would remain at around £1.7 billion until at least 2008.