Housing for people with a disability: time for a new roof

1. Housing for people with a disability: time for a new roof

2. Housing for people with a disability: time for a new roof Simon Brooke Head of Policy Clúid Housing Association

3. Clúid Housing Association • 18 years old • Owns or manages nearly 5000 rented homes across the country • Mainly ‘general needs’ housing - also nearly 500 units of sheltered housing for the elderly and some housing for people with disabilities

4. Social housing • Social housing is rented housing provided for people who cannot afford to buy, or to pay private rented sector rents • Social housing is subsidised by the state • Social housing is allocated by housing need • Social housing tenants pay an affordable rent – the differential rent system • In Ireland most social housing is provided by local authorities but housing associations are playing a growing role

5. What are housing associations? • Providers of social housing • Independent organisations with voluntary board of management • Confusing labels: ‘Housing associations’ = ‘voluntary housing sector’ = ‘approved housing bodies’ • Funded by rent from tenants and subsidy from government

6. Housing options for people with a disability • Owner occupation is expensive • Private rented housing: limited security of tenure, some poor conditions • Rental Accommodation Scheme may an option for some • Social housing is likely to be the best option for many

7. ‘Time to Move on from Congregated Settings’ • Very impressive report • Overwhelming evidence that independent living in the community is better than institutional care • Better quality of life • Better value for money • In line with thinking and practice in other areas e.g. older people, homeless people • But does it go far enough?

8. Some housing principles • There should be a legal right to housing • Housing is a necessity, and for some people support is a necessity too • There should be an explicit presumption that everyone, whether or not they have a disability, can live independently, with support if needed, unless they are not able to.

9. Some housing principles • Provision of housing should be separate from provision of support • Landlord/tenant relationship is different from support relationship • Allows for flexibility or ending of support • The ‘Housing First’ approach works • People don’t need to be ‘housing ready’ before they move into a home of their own • ‘House’ and ‘home’ are two different things

10. Social housing challenges • Housing Policy Statement 2011: • New role for housing associations • New financial arrangements for housing associations • Private finance instead of grants • Will take time to become established • NAMA • 120,000 empty houses – so what’s the problem?

11. Social housing challenges • Will need special programme for people in congregated settings • Assessment of housing need • Housing 500 people a year for 7 years will be a challenge • If the will is there, it can be done!

12. Thank you