Showing posts with label Independent Living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Independent Living. Show all posts

Wednesday, 21 December 2016

Funds To Improve Housing For People With Learning Disabilities

People with learning disabilities will benefit from £25 million of funding to help them live more independently in their own homes. The fund aims to improve their quality of life by giving them independence, and helping them feel more included in their local community. The successful bids of the £25 million housing and technology fund have been announced by Health Minister David Mowat. The local authority projects will focus on adapting existing housing, creating new accommodation and giving people support so they have more independence and choice. Read more on the Department of Health website.

Thursday, 29 September 2016

HAs ‘Better Than Job Centres’ For Jobs

New research reveals training for work programmes run by housing associations are regarded as better than job centres for finding employment. Researchers from Brunel University London studied HA programmes. Unlike Job Centre Plus, they found housing associations have good staff availability, give friendly, personalised, constructive advice and ‘offer hope’. Housing associations are taking on welfare service provision as new state regulation demands they spur tenants towards independent living and away from welfare dependence. Aimed at hard-to-reach groups such as long-term unemployed and young people not in education, employment of training (NEETs), Housing association employment services have a variety of funders including government. Read more on 24housing.

Wednesday, 27 July 2016

Micro-Homes For The Homeless

A city council and a homelessness charity are working together to try and provide micro-homes for the homeless. Worcester City Council has granted planning permission to The Homeless Foundation for an iKozie Micro-Home. The self-contained, fully-fitted home is designed to house young people who find themselves homeless and provide a base to enable them get back on their feet. Inspired by yacht interiors and first class airline suites, the iKozie measures 186 square foot (17.25sqm), and will be built using modular construction off-site and lifted into position via a crane in the back garden of an existing house upon completion. The idea is to use it as move-on accommodation to help the homeless people transition from hostels into independent living. Read more on the Housing Excellence website.

Friday, 6 November 2015

We Are Only Building Half The Homes We Need

New figures show that young people across the country are struggling more than ever to live independently because of the cost of housing.
·         The latest household projections suggest that we need over 220,000 additional homes in England each year until 2031 if the projected growth in households is to be accommodated. 
·         Currently we are building only 54% of that number - putting pressure on prices and rents.
·         The housing crisis is worse in London and the wider south east where 55% of the homes required need to be located.
·         Even if the homes required are actually built the latest government household projections suggest that couples aged between 25 and 34 will be less able to live in their own home in 2031 than their counterparts in 2011.

Read more on the TCPA website.

Thursday, 5 November 2015

Tax Rules Helping UK Charities Build Homes Can Also Bring Financial Ruin

Charities are granted a number of VAT exemptions and zero ratings, including zero rating on the construction of new buildings to be used for charitable purposes. Many charities that provide accommodation to vulnerable groups rely on this to make their projects economically viable. But the rules are complicated and open to interpretation. This has caused problems for Caritas Anchor House – a homelessness charity working in one of the country’s most deprived boroughs, Newham, London. This charity is in the process of trying to build “move on” flats for homeless people to transition back into independent living, a service that helps turn around lives and creates considerable savings for the public in the long term. Unfortunately, a decision by HMRC to charge VAT on the full cost of the development, has increased the bill by £1m. Read more on the Guardian website.

Tuesday, 14 October 2014

Care System Turning Its Back On Most Vulnerable Young People

One in three vulnerable young people is leaving care aged just 16 or 17, in sharp contrast to new polling which shows the UK public believes 21 or older is the right age to move out of the family home. Charity Action for Children warns that young people in the most difficult situations are not getting the right help early enough, leading to even greater problems. The charity interviewed marginalised young people in England and Wales about their experiences of finding a home after care.  Researchers found that without help with emotional stability, young people struggle with the demands of living independently, like staying up to date with bills and appointments. Leaving care to live with a family member was found to be a common experience, but can be difficult and lead to further instability. Read more on the Action for Children website.

Monday, 9 December 2013

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.

Tuesday, 22 October 2013

Largest Council Housebuilding Programme since The 1960s

Nottingham’s skyline is set to be transformed over the next four years as eight tower blocks are demolished and replaced by new low-rise housing in the biggest council building programme for 40 years.  The council aims to build 400 new council homes as part of its Building a Better Nottingham programme, and will be working with its ALMO Nottingham City Homes (NCH) to demolish the towers blocks and replace them with family housing, bungalows and Independent Living schemes. Homes are also to be built on a number of smaller sites across the city.  Read more on the Housing Excellence website.

Thursday, 29 August 2013

Councils Urged To Build Thousands of New Bungalows

Councils will need to build thousands more bungalows to deal with a ‘critical’ problem in housing Britain’s elderly, ministers say.  Advice to be issued to planners will highlight the need to match the supply of local accommodation to the needs of an ageing population looking to live independently for longer. The number of bungalows being built has almost come to a halt in recent years. As well as bungalows, councils will be told to consider retirement villages of 100 or so houses with activities for residents; sheltered homes with a warden on duty or on call; Extra Care, a form of retirement housing with 24-hour personal care and meals; and nursing homes.  Read more on the Daily Mail website.

Friday, 26 July 2013

£1m HCA Funding Boost for New Council Homes

The HCA has put £980,000 in funding towards plans for 70 new council homes in Lenton, Nottingham.  The purpose-built independent living scheme, which includes 54 flats and 16 bungalows, will form part of Nottingham City Council and Nottingham City Homes’ (NCH) plans for Lenton’s regeneration. The cash was awarded this week through the HCA’s Care and Support Specialised Housing Fund.  Each property will be built as a Code 4 Sustainable Home, offering a reduced carbon footprint and lowered energy bills for tenants. They will also meet lifetime home standards, making sure they have adequate space for wheelchairs and other adaptations that may be needed as tenants get older.  Read more on 24dash.

Tuesday, 4 September 2012

Young Disabled People 'Locked Out' Of Housing

Young disabled people are ‘locked out’ of living independently because they do not trust the information given about homes suitable for them, a survey says.  Trailblazers, a group of disabled campaigners from across the UK, spoke to 200 young disabled people and found 85 per cent did not feel confident in the advice given to them about wheel-chair accessible homes. The advice came from estate agents, local authorities and other housing providers and the report Locked out says this has stopped at least half of the people interviewed from living independently.  ‘Many young disabled people lack the necessary faith in the services of local authorities, estate agents, landlords or property developers to make it possible for them to live independently or to move house where and when they want to,’ the report says. Download a copy of the report from the Trailblazers website.