Housing
Overall aim
Disabled people are able to live independently, with choices equal to others, with housing inequalities reduced; housing choice/suitability is widened for disabled people; neighbourhood accessibility improved.
Achievements from 2005 to 2009
- Increased the provision of housing advice and information through the First Stop website (external link) and helpline.
- The Lifetime Homes Standard is an element in the Code for Sustainable Homes and provides specific design criteria aimed at ensuring that newly built accommodation is accessible and adaptable.
- £33 million investment to provide rapid repairs and adaptations services between 2009-11.
- About £6 million made available to support choice-based lettings in 65% of Local Authorities through 43 schemes.
- In 2008-09, funding increased for the Disabled Facilities Grant (external link), which provides help towards the cost of providing adaptations to accommodation to enable disabled and older people to continue to live independently in their own homes.
- The Supporting People programme funds local authorities to provide services which help vulnerable and older people, including 450,000 disabled people, to live independently. From 2009, the funding can be used flexibly by local authorities according to local priorities, giving them the freedom to deliver innovative services to provide better support.
Next steps on our strategy
- Ongoing support for choice-based lettings, including further £1 million to support availability in all local authorities by 2010.
- Issue good practice guidance to social housing providers in providing advice and support to vulnerable clients, including enabling them to participate successfully in choice-based lettings.
- Modernise the Disabled Facilities Grant (external link) programme, including updating the means test and application form and piloting more flexible payments.
- Help people with long-term disabilities into home ownership through the National Affordable Housing Programme, and particularly the specialist product HOLD (Home Ownership for people with Long Term Disabilities). This product allows purchasers to select a home on the open market and buy a share on a leasehold basis, providing flexibility to select a home in the location of their choice and that is suitable for their needs.
UN Convention articles:
Independent Living Strategy commitments:
- 3.1 (increase the provision of housing advice and information).
- 3.2 (update of Lifetime Homes standard and the Code for Sustainable Homes).
- 3.3 (lifetime homes standard and the private sector).
- 3.4 (Accessible Housing Registers).
- 3.5 (investment to provide rapid response repairs and adaptations services).
- 3.6 (early intervention).
- 3.7 (disabled facilities grant).
- 3.8 (supporting People).
- 10.7 (meeting the housing needs of young disabled people).
