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3. Background
Supporting People is an integrated policy and funding framework designed to provide Housing Support Services to a range of vulnerable people over the age of 16, in order that they can move into or remain living in their own homes.
The Supporting People programme was introduced in Scotland, in April 2003, when funding was transferred from the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP) to the Scottish Executive. This, in turn is administered as a ring fenced grant to the Scottish local authorities who have the responsibility for assessing local need, providing these services or purchasing Housing Support Services from external providers in order to meet these needs.
The emphasis on supporting vulnerable people was clearly laid out in the Supporting People objectives:
- Prevention - helping to sustain people in the community and pick up problems before they become crises
- Promoting independence - support to enable people to make their own decisions and live their own lives
- Alleviating crisis - support to help people through crises in their lives
- Resettlement - support to help people establish themselves in a new home in the community
- Inclusion - supporting people who may have difficult behaviours or unconventional lifestyles
- Focus on people - meeting objectives through a variety of flexible services moulded around people and the way they choose to live their lives
Further information can be found on the Supporting People website: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Housing/Housing/supportpeople/intro
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