Housing and Disability
The Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities defined housing as “the base from which people participate in society and can reflect as well as dictate their level of participation”. Everybody should be able to access affordable housing of good quality, suited to their needs, in a good environment and based on choice. Housing for people with disabilities should be characterised by the following:
- Inclusive of all housing types and not just social housing
- Integrated so that all providers of housing and supports dovetail and work seamlessly in order to respond to the housing and support needs of people with disabilities
- Adequately funded and resourced
- Respond to the diverse needs of people throughout their lifecycle
- Based on choice
- Promote independent living and people should be faciliated to live in the community as far as possible
Responsibility for social housing is under the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and administered at the local level by local authorities. Local authorities also provide grants to allow for the adaptation of homes to allow people with disabilites to continue living at home. NDA produced a research report in 2006 on the Operation of the Disabled Persons Grant Scheme and Recommendations for Change and advised the Department on the review of the grant. The grant was replaced in November 2007 by the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability Scheme and the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme. Details of the new Schemes are on the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government’s website
NDA is a member of the National Advisory Group, chaired by the Department, developing a Housing Strategy for People with Disabilities. NDA also advises on protocols to facilitate cross-agency working by housing authorities and the HSE and assessment of housing need.