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What is Supporting People ?
The Supporting People Programme funds and commissions housing related support services that assist over 18,000 vulnerable people across Hampshire, enabling them to live as independently as possible in their own accommodation.
Scope of the Programme in Hampshire
- £32 million annual budget
- 18,000 service users
- 750+ local services across 11 district council areas
- 145 service providers which include registered social landlords, district councils, the private sector, and health trust providers
Who can the Supporting People Programme help ?
- Older people
- People with learning disabilities, mental health problems or physical disabilities
- Men and Women escaping domestic violence
- Young vulnerable people & teenage parents
- Homeless people and Homeless Families
- People with substance misuse problems
- People at risk of offending
How do these people benefit from Supporting People funded services?
- By being supported to
- Understand and manage the rights and responsibilities of their tenancy
- Budget – e.g. to pay the rent
- Sort out utility services (water, gas and electricity supplies etc.)
- Ensure their home is safe and secure
- Develop life skills associated with maintaining a home or tenancy
- Access relevant benefits associated with living in their own home.
- Live independently in sheltered housing.
- Arrange adaptations and minor repairs to the home
- Gain access to local community organisations
- Have access to advice, advocacy and liaison.
Types of services funded by the Supporting People Programme
- Domestic violence refuges
- Direct access hostels
- Sheltered housing
- Home improvement agencies
- Floating support to people in their own homes
- Accommodation based services where support is linked to accommodation
Who is eligible?
Anyone over 16 who is in need of the kinds of support services the programme provides. Services are either “short term” in nature (i.e. people receive them for up to two years) for which there is no cost to the service user), or they are long-term in nature for which a charge may be levied. If the service user is in receipt of a means tested benefits they may be eligible to have their support costs met on their behalf through the Supporting People programme. In these cases the service user must be in receipt of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Job Seekers Allowance, Pension Credit, or Income Support
Note : To determine the amount of support charge someone may have to pay when accessing long-term services, people can be referred by their support service provider to the financial assessment process operated on behalf of the Hampshire Supporting People Programme by the CAB in Aldershot (tel: 01252-545531)
To find details of Supporting People service providers in Hampshire or to identify an appropriate service, the following can be contacted :
Additional Information sources:
How Is Supporting People Organised in Hampshire?
The Supporting People Programme in Hampshire is administered through Hampshire County Council, through the work of the Hampshire Supporting People Team, based in Winchester.
The programme is overseen at the county level through a multi-agency working partnership involving partners from the Health, Housing, Social Care, and Probation sectors. In particular this takes the form of the County Core Group, which meets quarterly. A County Inclusive Forum consisting of service provider and service user representation, also meets quarterly to consider the ongoing implementation of the programme from the service provider and user perspective. More locally, district level versions of the Core Group and Inclusive Forum meet to ensure the programme is fully informed of the districts’ strategic perspective and ongoing housing related support needs.
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