Supporting People is a government programme that funds support relating to housing. This is known as housing-related support.

This programme is committed to helping people improve their quality of life by living more independently.

Housing-related support services aim to prevent homelessness and help people do things for themselves so that they can continue living at home, rather than go into hospital or residential care. The programme can also help people make the transition from living in an institution to living independently.

Supporting People in Hertfordshire has produced a draft strategy for the development of housing-related support services between now and 2012.

We have asked a range of stakeholders about the strategy during a consultation period leading up to 31st May 2007. As part of this consultation we have been meeting with representatives from all District Councils, Social Care Commissioners, Support Providers and other Stakeholders as well as Service Users to obtain as wide a variety of opinions as possible on the content of the strategy. We will be keen to continue listening to stakeholders about the Supporting People Programme after this date.

The Supporting People website in Hertfordshire is at www.hertsdirect.org/supportingpeople . We are keen to ensure that as many people as possible have a say in the new Strategy. If you need the Strategy in a different language then this can be arranged, as well as in Braille or audio. Please contact us if you or anyone you know has such a need.

If you would like someone from the Supporting People Team to come along to your group please could you contact us on 01707 280600, or e-mail the Supporting People Team at supportingpeople.strategy@hertscc.gov.uk