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The Emerging Role of Sheltered Housing consortium and the Centre for Sheltered Housing Studies welcome the government's announcement of an independent review of Supporting People costs (24 October, page 15). We anticipate that support services for older people will be deemed extremely good value for money.

The comparative costs for different service user groups highlight the very low unit costs per week of services for older people (£6.84). We hope the reasons for this are fully understood by the consultants undertaking the review, that they are aware of the benefits of sheltered housing and the mechanisms in place to ensure that service quality is high.

One sheltered housing scheme manager typically provides support to 30 people, now more rigorously reviewed and documented under Supporting People, in contrast to the higher staffing levels in supported housing.

Sheltered housing offers a safe, supportive environment, delaying moves to higher dependency and reducing loneliness.

Quality services are encouraged by the ERoSH provider checklist and enforced through the Quality Assessment Framework.

The ODPM recently advised administering authorities that "sheltered housing providers that achieve accreditation under the 2003 version of the Code should be 'passported' through elements of the QAF".