A report summarized the key findings of a review of Home Improvement Agencies (which help vulnerable people to maintain their independence through the repair or adaptation of their home). HIAs had been successful in meeting older and vulnerable people's needs: but they needed to adapt to meet the aspirations of the government's strategy for housing in an ageing society.
Source: Foundations (National Co-ordinating Body for Home Improvement Agencies), The Future Home Improvement Agency: Supporting choice and maintaining independence – A report overview, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Sep
A report said that families with disabled children were more likely than other families to be living in bad housing – indeed, they might be one of the worst housed groups. It called for the government to: ensure that all English regions were considering the housing needs of families with disabled children in their housing strategies; amend the 'bedroom standard' to reflect the need for all disabled children to have a separate bedroom from other children in their household; and issue guidance reminding children's services departments of their existing legal duty to fund adaptations.
Source: Disabled Children and Housing, Every Disabled Child Matters (020 7843 6448)
Links: Report | EDCM press release | Guardian report
Date: 2008-Jun
A briefing paper provided an overview of what was known about the housing circumstances of disabled children and their families. Families with a disabled child were less likely to be living in a decent home compared to families with a non-disabled child. Those with a disabled child were 50 per cent more likely than other families to live in overcrowded accommodation, to rate their home as being in a poor state of repair, and to report problems with wiring, draughts, and damp in the child's bedroom.
Source: Bryony Beresford with Dave Rhodes, Housing and Disabled Children, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (01904 629241)
Links: Briefing
Date: 2008-Jun
Researchers examined the effectiveness of floating-support services for the Supporting People programme, and the balance needed between floating-support and accommodation-based services.
Source: Civis Policy Consulting Research, Research into the Effectiveness of Floating Support Services for the Supporting People programme, Department for Communities and Local Government (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Apr
A report examined the situation of older owner-occupiers with moderate learning disabilities who lived in homes needing urgent repairs and/or adaptations.
Source: Lorna Easterbrook, Living on the Edge: Enabling older owner occupiers with moderate learning disabilities to live independently, Care & Repair England (0115 950 6500)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Mar
An independent study examined the financial benefits of the Supporting People programme. Investment in packages of support that included housing support services was found to avoid costs elsewhere, and therefore produced a net financial benefit.
Source: Tom Ashton and Dan Turl, Research into the Financial Benefits of the Supporting People Programme, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report | DCLG press release | Crisis press release | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Jan