Housing Crisis For Disabled People Set To Deepen

More than two-thirds of all new homes to be built in England over the next decade will not be fully accessible for disabled people, new research has found. Analysis by Habinteg Housing Association shows the proportion of new homes to be built by 2030 to accessible standards has fallen from 34.4% in 2019 to 31.5%. There are 14.1 million disabled people in the UK, as well as rapidly ageing population. Yet just 9% of English homes currently provide the most basic accessibility features. Read more on the ITV website.

https://www.itv.com/news/2021-01-15/housing-crisis-for-disabled-people-set-to-deepen-report-finds

New Group Warns Over Accessible Housing ‘Ticking Time Bomb’

A new 10-strong coalition of charities and trade bodies is calling on the government to tackle a “time bomb” over the lack of suitable housing for disabled and older people. The coalition, Housing Made for Everyone (HoME), has written an open letter to the housing secretary calling for a new design standard baseline on all new housing as the UK grapples with the needs of an ageing population. The group, which includes Habinteg and the National Housing Federation, points out that the number of households headed by someone aged 65 or over has increased by more than a million since 2010/11. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/new-group-warns-over-accessible-housing-ticking-time-bomb-64028?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60

Nearly 2 Million Disabled People Have An Unmet Housing Need

A new report reveals the extent of demand for accessible homes to rent and buy.  The report says 1.8 million disabled people having an unmet housing need – 580,000 of working age. Conducted by teams at the London School of Economics (LSE) and Ipsos MORI for Habinteg and Papworth Trust, the ‘hidden housing market’ report is pitched as challenging assumptions about the potential for disabled people to buy their own home. The report also sheds light on the wider appeal of homes that deliver higher quality accessible features.  Download a copy of the report from the Habinteg website.

Benefit Cuts Undermining Independent Living For Disabled People

Disabled people are being hit hardest by the cumulative impact of the government’s welfare reform policies, according to a new report.  What price independent lives? highlights the combined effect of a range of benefit cuts on disabled people’s incomes and the particular threat this poses to independent living.  Analysis of detailed tenancy data at a six month point after the introduction of benefit cuts revealed the specific financial hardship faced by disabled tenants as a result of benefit restrictions. It shows that two thirds of tenants affected by the bedroom tax are disabled people. However the impact of this is deepened when the same people face other benefit cuts and variable policies by local authorities. The result is that the ability for disabled people to pay the additional costs associated with living an independent life is being severely restricted. Read more on the Habinteg website.