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Traditionally housing associations have provided low cost housing to people on low incomes. But times are changing and so are the opportunities for registered social landlords to explore ways of expanding their range of services.

Larger registered social landlords are now moving increasingly into the care field, and it appears there are good reasons for this.

Not only is it sensible for them because they are able to offer a more inclusive service to their residents, but it also, it appears, makes sound financial sense.

The evidence of the increasing involvement of housing associations in the provision of care varies around the country, but there is a discernible trend.

Sue Ramsden, who is a policy officer with the National Housing Federation, said some of the larger RSLs are definitely making changes.

She cited both Circle 33 and North British housing associations as examples of large social landlords, which have altered their structures to reflect the new agenda.

Chris Hampson, who is head of policy at Look Ahead Housing and Care housing association, says his organisation now provides services across London and the south east, including an outreach element, to rough sleepers, people with mental health problems, and people with learning difficulties. They also run traditional supported housing.

He says Look Ahead is an example of a new breed of housing associations, which are looking to broaden their functions.

Part of Hampson's job is to ensure there is some co-ordination between the project managers of the different services. It is a challenge for RSLs to ensure that when they take on new roles, he said, the internal structures are able to respond to the extra burdens.

For the association's clients and residents there are good reasons for housing associations offering more comprehensive services.

"General needs housing associations have a lot of stock in run-down areas, with housing management problems, and they are to do with people not having enough support," Hampson says.

He also believes many of the government's regeneration initiatives have failed to take account of the more personal support needs many people have.

"The regeneration agenda is very much around physical regeneration of buildings etc. Social services and support have been neglected," he says.

He says the failure has led to problems such as violence in neighbourhoods.

Look Ahead has 'tenancy sustainment teams', funded by the government's rough sleepers unit, which help people learn how to live independently and not lose their tenancies.

Hampson believes the teams could work on large estates, where many people have mental health problems of varying degrees. "This could be a model for the future," he says.

"People still think in terms of sectors, but we have to be very much more joined up," he says.

Ramsden also points to financial reasons behind the shift underway in some associations. Under Supporting People, the government's new funding regime for supported housing, RSLs have funding opportunities not available several years ago.

"Supporting People means people will have to be much clearer about what support services they provide and the housing services they provide.

"It is a much more flexible system of funding and it is much easier to receive funding for a service that is not tied to tenure," she says.

Housing and support services can fit well together and housing associations are ideally placed to offer both.

The government's agenda of partnership working between different agencies means social care and housing services must move closer together, and for housing associations there are opportunities to broaden the range of services they offer.

For residents of RSL homes this can only be a positive development. Having a landlord who can help you in other aspects of your life will surely be welcomed by many vulnerable people.