Jocelyn Davies AM pays a visit to Oak House!

To mark the launch of a new report into the ‘Supporting People Programme’, Jocelyn Davies AM visited Oak House to meet residents, tour the building, and shoot some pool!

A new independent report has found that the money the Supporting People Programme in Wales saves other services, far outweighs the cost of the scheme.

Professor Sir Mansel Aylward CB carried out the study, once the Deputy Minister for Housing and Regeneration, Jocelyn Davies AM had commissioned the review. The report was launched at Oak House, a hostel for homeless people run by United Welsh, which receives funding from the Supporting People Programme.

Oak House operates a 20-bed dry hostel providing temporary accommodation for homeless or potentially homeless people, who have mental health, drug or alcohol problems. There is a women-only floor to the hostel, which is secure and provides a safe refuge for women escaping domestic abuse. Oak House assists, supports and enables clients to achieve their goals. The ultimate aim of the project is to resettle and reintegrate clients into permanent accommodation of their own.

The reports publication follows an announcement that the Supporting People budget will see an investment of almost £140m during 2011-12, seeing less of a drop than other areas of the housing budget.

Jocelyn Davies AM Deputy Minister for Housing and Regeneration said:

“I welcome this report which confirms the significant contribution made by the Supporting People Programme to disadvantaged people across Wales. The value for money that this programme delivers is the reason I have protected the Supporting People budget as much as I can during 2011-12.”

Supporting People offers housing related support and practical help to around 50,000 vulnerable people a year to help them live as independently as possible in the community.

November 2010

(Above / Below) - Jocelyn Davies AM and Sir Mansel Aylward CB with residents of Oak House