Housing Executive celebrates 20 years of Supporting People
The Housing Executive is celebrating 20 years of the Supporting People programme, which has invested over £1.2 billion into providing housing support services and assisting vulnerable people to live more independently in communities across Northern Ireland.
Speaking at an event in Parliament Buildings, Stormont today (12 June), Housing Executive Chief Executive Grainia Long said:
“I want to thank our staff who administer the programme and the invaluable contribution from service provider staff as they continue to make a remarkable, positive difference to the lives of so many people.
“Last year over £76 million was distributed to 82 service providers. Over 800 vital services were provided to in excess of 19,000 people across Northern Ireland, often delivered as they faced some of the most challenging times in their lives.
“This collaboration between the Housing Executive, the Department for Communities, the Department of Health and the Department of Justice has been a productive and successful joined-up approach over the past two decades.”
Guests, who were welcomed by event sponsor Kellie Armstrong MLA, watched a short film which documented the work of Supporting People, provider organisations and the impact the programme has had on the lives of those supported.
Colum Boyle, the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Communities underlined the significance of Supporting People:
“By supporting people when they need it, in a way that makes sense not just for now but for a more positive future, we are building back lives.
"But that’s not all. We are also building more cohesive communities that are accepting and reflective of diversity and difference. That is why the Department for Communities has supported this programme over the last 20 years.”
During the event, guests heard how the Supporting People programme provides assistance for vulnerable people to live independently in their own home, while reducing other costs to the public purse.
A report commissioned by NICVA in 2015 estimated that every £1 spent on the Supporting People services saves the public purse £1.90.
The Housing Executive also commissioned research in 2020 on the Social Return on Investment and the findings indicated that every £1 spent on Supporting people between 2018 and 2021 generated a social value of £1: £5.71.
The future priorities of the programme were also outlined during the event.
Housing Executive Chief Executive Grainia Long explained:
“In 2022, we introduced the Supporting People Strategic Plan and Covid-19 Recovery Plan 2022-2025. The strategic plan was developed following extensive engagement with stakeholders including service users from the voluntary, community and statutory sectors.
“It focuses on driving recovery and re-build beyond Covid-19, working towards closing the 14 per cent gap between need for services and supply, collaborating with providers to invest in service innovation to achieve greater outcomes and strengthening relationships across health, criminal justice and housing, with the aim of generating greater value from public funds.”
We look forward to our continued partnership and collaborative work with our partners and providers.”