‘Sheltered housing is a lifestyle choice’

Keeping sheltered housing under the Supporting People scheme
“dilutes the direction of the programme”, a former government
adviser warned.

Sheltered housing is a “lifestyle choice” and not a temporary
measure for older people to get back on their feet, said Meic
Phillips, a former member of the Office of Deputy Prime Minister’s
Supporting People working group. “Older people see their homes for
life, only wanting a little bit of help when it is needed.”

Although this involved a long-term commitment, Supporting People
was more focused on temporary needs, Phillips added.