Written question asked by Ashok Kumar (Labour) on Wednesday, 13 June 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 15 June 2007. It was answered by Meg Munn (Labour) on Wednesday, 20 June 2007 on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Family Intervention Project

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Family Intervention Project.

Answer: In 2004 Communities and Local Government commissioned a two year evaluation of six Intensive Family Support Projects which pioneered new ways of working with families at risk of eviction as a result of antisocial behaviour. The evaluation found that in more than eight out of ten families (85 per cent.), at the point at which they exited the projects, complaints about antisocial behaviour had ceased or reduced and tenancies were stabilised resulting in a reduction in the risk of homelessness. Two further pieces of research have been commissioned. One will track a sample of families who worked with the six Intensive Family Support Projects and the other will be on the study that helped inform roll-out of the 53 Family Intervention Projects which the Government announced in April. The findings of both studies (in the case of the second piece, the first stage of the project) will be published later in the year.

Secondary information