In a letter to council leaders, he reminded councils as they set their budgets they should consider evidence showing that every pound spent through this housing support services saves £3 – in reduced costs in homelessness, tenancy failure, crime, health and residential care packages.

So the £1.6billion invested annually in Supporting People can save as much as £3.41billion in the costs of alternative help for vulnerable people in our communities.

The Government protected £6.5billion funding for Supporting People over the course of the Spending Review – representing a less than 1% cash reduction in funding each year.

The funding helps people across the country to live independently in their own homes.

These can include:

* Older and disabled people;
* Single homeless people;
* People with mental health problems; and
* Women at risk of domestic violence.

Shapps said: "Local taxpayers will rightly expect their councils to do their utmost to protect the services that help the most vulnerable residents in their communities – and so do I.

"That’s why, despite the need to cut the record deficit we inherited, we’ve protected the £6.5billion Supporting People funding which each year helps approximately a million people to live independent lives.

"As councils look to set their budgets, I would urge them to consider the evidence that with each pound spent through Supporting People saving £3 by avoiding more costly alternatives, and invest to save to ensure help continues for those most in need."

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