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Disabled people trapped in unsuitable homes is ‘hidden crisis’
A lack of accessible homes and insufficient support are trapping disabled people in unsuitable accommodation, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has claimed.
In a report published today, the commission said that people with disabilities are being left “frustrated” by their housing situation, with too few accessible homes on offer and local government bureaucracy delaying much-needed adaptations.
One person told researchers they have not been outside since 2011, except for hospital stays, because their second-floor flat is not wheelchair accessible.
The EHRC is calling on ministers to come up with a national strategy to deliver enough homes built to inclusive design standards, including through changes to the National Planning Policy Framework and a review of building standards enforcement.
It has also urged social housing providers to “embed independent living principles” into their allocations policies, to give disabled tenants greater choice.
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According to government statistics, around 365,000 disabled people in England have unmet housing needs.
That figure could rise as the number of disabled people increases due to Britain’s ageing population.
“The overwhelming message that has come back is that disabled people want to live independently, they want to socialise and have opportunities for employment, and they can’t do that because of the severe lack of accessible and adaptable homes in Britain,” said Susan Johnson, a commissioner on the EHRC.
“Over time there has not been enough attention given, both at a policy level and at a delivery level, to ensuring that the houses that are built are suitable and adaptable.
“It’s transferring costs into the health sector, the adult and social care sector who are having to pick up the fallout from the inability to provide disabled people with suitable housing and if we don’t address it this is just going to get worse.”
Governments and councils also need to improve data collection on disabled peoples’ requirements and the number of existing adaptable homes, the commission said.
It found that only 16% of councils felt they had “good” or “very good” data on the number of disabled people in inappropriate housing, while more than half (55%) did not have a target for accessible or adaptable housing delivery in their Local Plan.
Disabled people in housing which meets their needs enjoy better health and employment prospects, while the right adaptations can cut NHS and social care costs.
“This report highlights a worrying lack of suitable housing options for disabled people,” said Terrie Alafat, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing.
“Accessibility must be a crucial consideration for the government as it looks to solve our housing crisis.”
Cather Ryder, head of policy at the National Housing Federation, said: “The idea that thousands of disabled people living in this country are denied access to a basic human right like living in a suitable home is shocking. We strongly support the call for a long-term strategy to ensure disabled people have access to a home that meets their needs.
“Housing associations already have a strong commitment to ensuring vitally needed adaptions are made to homes, and currently provide half a million people with supported housing, designed for people who need ongoing support to live independently. However, we know the sector is ambitious to do more.”
Update: at 12.36pm 11/05/18 a statement from the National Housing Federation was added to the story.
