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The government is unlikely to impose a payment model on councils for Supporting People.

Kathleen Boyle, head of housing management and support at the National Housing Federation, told an assisted living conference last week that she was "convinced" the government would not impose a single payment model.

Boyle added that, while the government would "encourage and expect" local authorities to charge for supported housing services in particular ways, it would ultimately be down to local discretion.

She said councils could decide not to charge small groups of service users, such as those with HIV. However, Boyle said local authorities would not be able to exempt large groups of people from Supporting People charges because they needed the revenue.

The supported housing funding regime comes into effect in 2003 and the government is still consulting on how councils should charge for it.