Shapps: Housing Rules Should Not Be a Barrier to a Stable Home Life

Grant Shapps has called on councils to give the dreams and aspirations of prospective adoptive parents and foster carers a helping hand, and cut through red tape hindering adoptions and fostering. Forthcoming guidance will make clear that councils will be expected to consider how their actions could help people in their area who are looking to adopt or foster a child. Currently there is a Catch-22 situation that is blighting prospective parents' and carers' efforts to adopt or foster: legislation requires adopted and fostered children to have their own bedroom but currently it is often difficult for prospective adoptive parents and foster carers to obtain a larger council house before their application to adopt or foster can be approved. Mr Shapps said new guidance on allocating council homes would break down the barriers between different council departments and ensure that the needs of children waiting for adoption will be considered and the needs of those wanting to adopt or foster can be met. Whilst councils will continue to allocate on the basis of need, these new recommendations call for the needs of those people looking to adopt or foster to be considered. Read more on the CLG website.