Housing Support Grant
Housing Support Programme
Background
The Supporting People Programme was established in 2003 following transitional housing benefit. The Supporting People Programme commissioned Housing Related Support Services for those in housing need. Supporting People services helped improve people’s health, gave vulnerable people better access to services and helped people achieve genuine independence, choice and control over the their lives by providing support to help them live more independently. In April 2019 Welsh Government merged the Supporting People Grant with the Homelessness Prevention Grant and the enforcement element of Rent Smart Wales to create a new Housing Support Grant (HSG).
Housing related support
Housing related support can include activities such as:
• assistance to ensure safety and security of the property
• assistance to control access to the property
• assistance to arrange for the servicing and repair of appliances
• arranging adaptations to cope with disability
• assistance to organise and make arrangements for maintenance and minor repairs to the property
• assistance to use household appliances safely
• assistance to deal with disputes and communicate with others appropriately
• assistance to budget, maximise income and manage financial commitments.
• assistance to organise access to professional help e.g. -G.P./ Community Services
• assistance with developing and teaching daily living skills
Available Support Services
Supporting People primarily funds two categories of support; Supported Accommodation and Floating Support. Housing Support Grant funded services support people with a range of needs including:
• Homelessness
• Domestic Abuse
• Mental Health
• Young People
• Learning disabilities
• Older People
Single Access Point
To access any of the Supporting People Services an application for the Single Access Point must be completed and returned to the team. The Single Access Point is the only referral mechanism into HSG services. The Single Access Point is also used as a means to collect information for planning and commissioning of Housing Support Grant services.
Planning for services
Information gleaned from several sources is used when planning for HSG services. This includes needs data gathered through the Single Access Point and other information including other needs data, population trends and legislative changes. Services are planned through the HSG Planning Group and set out in the yearly Local Commissioning Plan (LCP).
Regional context
A Regional Collaborative Committee (RCC) was established between Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf which had oversight over the local commissioning plans, agreed the Regional Commissioning Plan, set out any regional priorities and supported the monitoring of Service User involvement across the region. Under the new HSG guidance, the Regional Housing Support Collaborative Group will undertake this role. Bridgend joined the regional footprint in 2018 after the re-organisation of the Health Board areas creating Cwm Taf Morgannwg Regional Housing Support Collaborative Group. Find out more here https://www.merthyr.gov.uk/council/partnership-working/
Getting involved
The best way to create services for any client group is to evidence the need. The main source of information used in planning of services is the Single Access Point (SAP) needs information. This information is gathered through completion of the SAP referral and needs mapping forms. There is also a project proposal pro-forma which can be completed and presented to the Housing Support Grant Planning Group.
