Call to keep focus on housing not care

The Supporting People programme should be refocused on housing and not allowed to drift into funding care, the government has been told.

In a response to a consultation on the future of the programme, a group of supported housing providers suggests the introduction of “eligible and ineligible tasks” to prevent funding being diverted to social services and NHS responsibilities.

The five agencies, including Potteries and Byker Bridge housing associations, also recommend that performance is monitored by regional housing boards rather than local authorities.

In its response, sheltered housing consortium Erosh urges the government not to remove the programme’s ringfence.

And in a joint submission, Anchor Trust, Housing 21 and Hanover Housing Association recommend a set of national outcomes to prevent the emergence of a postcode lottery.