Having a home - and managing all the responsibilities that come with it - is something many take for granted. Yet for those with learning disabilities, the need to manage monthly bills and liaise with a landlord could present a formidable challenge. Likewise, the trauma of domestic violence could undermine a victim's ability to settle in a new home unless support is given. East Sussex receives 11.5m each year from central government to fund housing-related services. The county, borough and district councils and the local health and probation services have concluded that by making key changes to some of these services, a greater number of people across the county could receive assistance. The first phase of this process will look at services for the under 65s. Over the next year a number of contracts with service providers will stop, and new services will be put in place. As a result: '¢ Support workers will provide local assistance, by travelling around the county to those who need help. '¢ More money will be invested in preventative services, which stop an individual's circumstances from deteriorating. County Cllr Bill Bentley, chairman of the Supporting People Core Strategy Group, commented: "By switching to a more local style of support, an estimated 3.56m will be reinvested in supporting people front line services, enabling the available grant to deliver more targeted help to more people than ever before." Everyone currently receiving a housing-related service will be invited to learn more about the changes, and what it will mean during a period of consultation, scheduled to start in June 2008.