Supporting People Budget Protected

The Supporting People budget for local authorities in 2017-18 has been protected at the same level as this year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Supporting People programme provides housing-related support to help vulnerable people to keep their homes and live as independently as possible. £124.4m will be allocated amongst the twenty two local authorities in Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Cabinet Secretary made the announcement ahead of making the opening address at the Cymorth Cymru Conference in Cardiff where he told delegates: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am very proud that Wales continues to have a ring-fenced Supporting People programme and that we have protected this funding for another year. The support work undertaken by teams funded through Supporting People helps some of the most vulnerable people in Wales to remain in their own homes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“But as I have said on many occasions, that doesn’t mean things should just stay the same. In a time of shrinking budgets it is essential we work together to make grant programmes more efficient and effective and where possible protect front line services. We must challenge the way in which we do things and ask questions ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I would like to thank all those housing support workers who make a real difference to the lives of people in need and at risk of homelessness”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​