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Breaking point: the crisis in accessible housing and adaptations
- Author:
- MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY UK
- Publisher:
- Muscular Dystrophy UK
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 14
- Place of publication:
- London
Based on a survey of people affected by muscle-wasting conditions, carried out between July and September 2015, and Freedom of Information requests to local councils, this report uncovers a crisis in accessible housing, which is having a devastating effect on people’s lives. The findings show that: well over a third of individuals and families faced debt and serious financial hardship when trying to fund vital adaptations for their homes; local councils have hundreds of people waiting to be rehoused in accessible accommodation but no houses available; individuals are going without vital adaptations because they are unable to afford the costs, in some cases leaving them unable to use the bath or shower; over a third of local councils provide no additional financial help with the costs of adaptations; some local councils have minimum residency periods of 5 years and over, during which time individuals and families with muscle-wasting conditions can face periods of rapid deterioration without the right support. The report calls for: an increase in the number of accessible properties; increase of the statutory maximum grant available for Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs), ensuring that this figure moves up in line with inflation; greater use of discretionary payments for DFGs; local authorities to apply criteria on minimum residency periods with greater flexibility; and all local authorities to hold a register of accessible properties. (Edited publisher abstract)