The Auditor General for Wales published a report on The Welsh Government's Supporting People Programme (PDF 1MB) in August 2017.

The Welsh Government invested £124.5 million in its Supporting People Programme (the Programme) in 2016-17, to support vulnerable people in a wide variety of circumstances to live as independently as possible. The Programme provides grant funding to local authorities to deliver directly, or through third-party providers, housing-related support services to a range of people; from those with learning or physical disabilities and development disorders to victims of domestic abuse, people with chronic illnesses, mental health or substance misuse issues, criminal offending histories and people with refugee status.

According to the Auditor General for Wales’ report, despite some improvements, action taken to address longstanding concerns with its design and delivery has not always been effective, progress has been slow in key areas and there are inconsistencies in the Programme’s management at a local and regional level.

However, the report found that current objectives do not recognise explicitly the Programme’s role in preventing homelessness and tackling poverty. The report also reflects concerns about the way the Welsh Government has communicated the implications of changing policy on the Programme, including legislation on social services, future generations and housing, and UK Government policy on welfare reform. The Welsh Government has consulted recently on revised objectives as part of wider changes to Programme guidance, but developing these new arrangements has taken longer than expected due in part to resourcing constraints.

The Public Accounts Committee considered the Report and undertook an inquiry in the autumn 2017 / spring 2018. Following publication of its Report in May 2018, the Committee monitored the implementation of the report recommendations by the Welsh Government.