Pressures on Housing

Many more adults with a learning disability may continue living with their parents into their adult lives, rather than being supported to live independently, according to new research published by Mencap. The interim findings from a report into the provision of housing for people with a learning disability found that while demand for services is rising, local authorities are increasingly struggling to meet this need. The study shows that 89% of local authorities agree there has been an increase in the number of people with a learning disability requiring housing support in the last three years. The research comes as the government’s flagship Welfare Reform Bill, which outlines changes to housing benefit and social housing, makes its way through the House of Lords. All of the local authorities surveyed for the research agree that the biggest challenge at the moment is financial, leading to greater pressures on their housing services. Download a copy of the report from the Mencap website.