As Rethink Mental Illness recognises, supported housing is a lifeline for many people with mental health conditions and I am committed to protecting these homes and the people who live in them. The new funding model for supported housing will put the sector on a sustainable and stable footing.
 
I am pleased that concerns raised by the supported housing sector have been listened to and that Ministers have decided that there cannot be a one size fits all solution for this sector. As you mention, Local Housing Allowance rates will not be applied to tenants in supported housing, nor to the wider social rented sector. This means that long-term supported housing costs will continue to be covered fully through the welfare system. 
 
I am glad that the need for a distinct model for short-term supported housing has been recognised. Funding for this part of the sector will be provided through locally administered ring-fenced grants, underpinned by a new, comprehensive local planning and oversight regime that will be continuously reviewed. I welcome the recent announcement that, by 2020, English councils will have received access to more than £200 billion in funding. This will provide funding security to the sector, providing local councils with greater control over provision in their areas. 
 
Moreover, the two-year period for which short term accommodation will be provided is not a crude cut off. Rather, under the Government's definition, short-term supported housing may be provided for either two years or until transition to suitable long-term stable accommodation is found, whichever occurs first. 
 
I am confident that the proposed funding for supported housing will enable a more localised approach to providing accommodation for some of the most vulnerable people in this country, including those suffering from mental health conditions.