Let’s keep on Supporting People

Supporting People Purple

Research carried out for NICVA has revealed that every £1 spent on the £65m Supporting People programme saves the public purse £1.90.

A detailed assessment of the financial impact of the programme was undertaken by SITRA. The findings published today estimate that, without the Supporting People housing support programme, additional costs of £125.05m per year would be incurred through an increased need for services in housing, health and social care, and criminal justice.

 

Seamus McAleavey, Chief Executive of NICVA said: “With the current squeeze on public spending we need to know what works and what is value for money. Supporting people is a significant public expenditure programme and NICVA wanted to explore if it was value for money. The figures revealed in this research suggest that simply cutting the Supporting People budget is unlikely to save the government money, and may even result in greater costs overall.”

 

Cameron Watt, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations said: “Supporting People has been an immense success, enabling thousands of people to sustain their accommodation and live with as much independence as possible providing preventative housing support services. The new research confirms that it is worth every penny and saving taxpayers millions through avoidance of costly hospital admissions and reliance on other services.

“We welcome the fact that Social Development Minister Mervyn Storey and the NI Executive have protected the Supporting People budget for 2015-16. Service providers are working with government to reform services and make them even more effective.

To find out more please click on the following link:

http://www.nicva.org/article/supporting-people-saves-public-purse-%C2%A312505m-annum