...as government campaign claim

The ODPM report Benefits Realisation of the Supporting People Programme, published on Thursday, was designed to show how the £1.7bn programme helps other government departments to meet their policy targets.

It estimated that crime reduction services funded by Supporting People save the taxpayer £108m, and services to combat homelessness save £278m. Independent living schemes, which can help to reduce admission to hospital for the elderly or people with mental health problems, save the public £474m, health service-related schemes save £267m, and social services care-linked schemes save £210m.

The research was commissioned to make the case for Supporting People in spending review negotiations with Treasury and other government departments, where the programme faced heavy cuts. The research measured tangible benefits but added that the programme boosted quality of life, which is more difficult to measure.

Nigel Rogers, director of supported housing umbrella body SITRA, said the research showed the programme almost paid for itself in savings to other parts of the public purse.

The problem is the only way you can avoid blanket cuts is to have good information on projects but most authorities are behind with their reviews of schemes

Diane Henderson, head of care and support at the National Housing Federation

This has been a very tough settlement – we will have to make big cuts in the service with the prospect of further big cuts in the future

Raj Chada, executive member for housing at Camden council

Supporting People is too complicated and too bureaucratic and this places a huge burden on local authorities. This is why they are struggling

Sue Witherspoon, director of strategy at English Churches Housing Group