Examination of Witnesses (Questions 58
- 59)
MONDAY 8 JUNE 2009
MR MIKE
SHORT, MR
PETE CHALLIS
AND MR
ANDREW VAN
DOORN
Q58 Chair: I will start off with
the same question as to the others, very briefly what do you think
are the benefits the Supporting People programme has delivered
to date?
Mr van Doorn: I think there are
four benefits that I would mention. The first is obviously the
hundreds of thousands of people who are receiving support and
living independent lives in our communities. Those people should
not be forgotten in some of the debates around Supporting People
which often focuses on providers and commissioners. Second is
the cross-agency and cross-disciplinary nature of the programme
and the way in which it grew out of a collaborative effort from
all people involved in the world of supported housing and housing
support. Then there are the improvements in quality which have
had a direct benefit on the outcomes of vulnerable people. Finally,
the strategic framework that it gives at a local level so that
conversations can take place and do take place about the housing
support needs and the independence of vulnerable and marginalised
people.
Mr Challis: We would add that
the framework has enabled service innovation and expansion that
has met previously unmet needs and unrecognised needs.
Q59 Chair: Can you be specific?
Mr Challis: We can cite some specific
groups. We know that the number of women at risk of domestic violence
being assisted has gone up from 6000 to nearly 10,000; the number
of rough sleepers has gone up from 1600 to 2200; young people
at risk from 13,500 to 18,600. These are 2003-04 compared with
2007-08 figures.
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