1. 1 Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government 3 March 2009 DFI National Conference Housing Strategy for People with a Disability

2. 2 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

3. 3 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

4. 4 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.

5. 5 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

6. 6 Main Issues 1. 1.Access to appropriate housing across a spectrum of tenures – Social, RAS, Affordable, Private Rented, Voluntary Housing 2. 2.Determination of the nature and extent of housing need 3. 3.Effective interagency approachs to ensure client centred delivery of services 4. 4.Supports to enable PWDs to live independently 5. 5.Accessibility – Retrofitting, Lifetime Adaptability & Part M

7. 7 Main Issues 6.Specific housing and support needs of individuals suffering mental ill health 7. 7.Access to advice, support and information throughout lifecycle to reflect changing need 8. 8.Disability awareness training for Housing Authority personnel 9. 9.Best practice in design, coordination and delivery of housing and related supports

8. 8 Research 1. 1.Good Practice Models in the Provision of Housing & Related Supports for PWDs 2. 2.Mental Health – Accommodation & Supports 3. 3.Role of the Private Rented Sector in meeting housing needs of PWDs Centre for Housing Research / Research Steering Group

9. 9 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

10. 10 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