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DFI National Conference. Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government 3 March 2009. Housing Strategy for People with a Disability. Background.
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DFI National Conference Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government 3 March 2009 Housing Strategy for People with a Disability
Background • Core objective of Government policy - To enable every household to have available an affordable dwelling of good quality, suited to its needs, in a good environment, as far as possible at the tenure of its choice • Disability Housing Strategy: • Recommendation in NESC 2004 ‘Housing in Ireland’ Report • Identified as a priority action in Towards 2016
Government Policy • Housing Policy Statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities – deliver more and better housing responses focused on building sustainable communities • Underpins a range of actions to meet the housing needs of PWDs, incl: • Protocols for interagency cooperation where there is a care dimension • Improvements in housing quality, incl review of Part M of Building Regulations • Revised adaptation grants to improve equity and targetting • HAPs to include specific strategies to respond to the housing needs of PWDs • Assessment of Need
Disability Housing Strategy • Vision: To provide the appropriate range of housing and related support services to people with a disability, delivered in an integrated and sustainable manner, which underpins equality of opportunity, individual choice and independent living • Terms of Reference: • To input into Government policy in addressing the accommodation needs of people with a disability; • To advise on the structures and supports required to effectively deliver on the accommodation needs of people with a disability, including through the development of inter-agency responses; and • To act as an advisory and monitoring body on the implementation of the new strategy.
Disability Housing Strategy • National Advisory Group – established October 2007 • Established under aegis of Housing Forum • Representation from D/H&C, HSE, Social Partners, NDA, voluntary organisations representing PWDs • Completion of strategy by end 2009
Main Issues • Access to appropriate housing across a spectrum of tenures – Social, RAS, Affordable, Private Rented, Voluntary Housing • Determination of the nature and extent of housing need • Effective interagency approachs to ensure client centred delivery of services • Supports to enable PWDs to live independently • Accessibility – Retrofitting, Lifetime Adaptability & Part M
Main Issues 6. Specific housing and support needs of individuals suffering mental ill health • Access to advice, support and information throughout lifecycle to reflect changing need • Disability awareness training for Housing Authority personnel • Best practice in design, coordination and delivery of housing and related supports
Research • Good Practice Models in the Provision of Housing & Related Supports for PWDs • Mental Health – Accommodation & Supports • Role of the Private Rented Sector in meeting housing needs of PWDs • Centre for Housing Research / Research Steering Group
Mental Health • Special focus on needs of people suffering mental ill health • Role of advocates in providing support and accessing services • Linkage to new Homeless Strategy • Mental Health Sub-group • Develop protocols to manage housing & related support needs, incl integration into community based living when leaving insitutional care
Challenges • Funding for Housing Programme – Prioritisation within available resources • Meeting the varied needs of increased numbers of special needs households (2008 A of N) • Development of secure linkages and cooperation between relevant agencies in order to streamline service delivery • Dedicated funding streams / synchronised budgets • Setting deliverable targets and communicating realistic options at local and national level