Thousands of Staffordshire residents to be hit by sheltered housing cuts

Funding for eight firms that provide the housing has already been cut by up to 50 per cent – and cash for all 15 organisations will cease in March.

The housing firms will have to pay for services to residents themselves – or find other ways to raise the money – such as increasing rents.

Some 98 sheltered housing sites across Staffordshire are affected, including Grace Moor Court and Capstone Court in Cannock.

Among the firms affected are Bromford Housing, where 1,300 residents will see their support cut or drastically reduced.

The cuts are part of the council slashing its £11 million Supporting People funding by £6 million, cash which is also used to fund community alarms and domestic violence support.

Final plans have not yet been drawn up but options include reducing the service, increasing charges, or even introducing a 'pay as you go' system.

It comes as the council looks to cut more than £100 million over five years – with hundreds of jobs at risk.

Fears have been raised that residents will struggle to pay any extra fees.

Stafford councillor Maureen Compton said: "I cannot believe that the county council is proposing to hit the vulnerable and elderly with such a cut in its budget.

"Surely, such people should have priority and savings ought to be found elsewhere."

A report to the council states: "Providers were engaged early in discussions about the potential changes and asked to consider re-configuring their service delivery models on the basis of a 50 per cent reduction in funding from October 2014, with funding ceasing during 2015/16.

"Some asked whether, as an alternative, they could continue to receive 100 per cent funding until March.

"This request was accommodated for seven of the provider organisations and had a neutral effect on the budget position.

"At present, providers are planning to or have already begun to consult with their tenants and are still considering the preferred changes to their service delivery models which include a reduced level of service; increased service charges; and/or re-configuring services legitimately to attract higher levels of housing benefit; or offering service

on a pay as you go basis."

But council bosses insist the cuts are 'likely to see most, if not all sheltered housing schemes remain thus reducing the need for people to consider moving to alternative accommodation'.

Councillor Alan White, the council's cabinet member for care, has said the number of contracts with firms needs to be simplified, and that the authority is discussing what help is available for people.