National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011 - 2016

(a) Assessment of Individual Housing Need9.27 A mental health disability is, in many respects, an unseen disability, insofar as thedisability cannot usually be visually recognised. People with mental health disabilities mayalso be less likely to disclose their disability due to concerns over confidentiality, stigma andlack of information regarding the reasons for, and benefits of, disclosing medical history. Itcan also be extremely difficult to classify the nature and severity of a mental health disabilityand the consequent requirement for additional supports that such classification mightindicate.9.28 Applicants and their advocates, where appropriate, should be informed that disability,including a mental health disability, is one of the grounds under which housing needs can beconsidered. Making the housing authority aware of a disability will mean that the authoritycan plan to meet the specific needs arising and to consider individual needs and additionalsupports required from other agencies in the allocation process. Disclosure of a disability,supported by medical evidence will allow an applicant to be considered for appropriateprioritisation 83 . As outlined in chapter 6, the new assessment of housing need processprovides a mechanism to determine the specific housing needs that may arise from the typeor nature of a person’s disability.9.29 There may be a perception that, as housing authorities have traditionally providedmainly family accommodation, they may be unable to meet the housing needs of peoplewith a mental health disability, particularly single person households. In this context, theavailability of housing options such as long term leasing and RAS will assist in the provisionof a more diverse housing stock and in the achievement of mixed tenure sustainablecommunities, by providing accommodation outside of traditional local authority estates.This provides an increase in housing options suitable for people with a mental healthdisability. The role of disability and other voluntary organisations in promoting awareness ofthe assessment of need process is recognised. These organisations also have a role to playin increasing awareness of the availability of housing options for people with a mental healthdisability outside of traditional social housing.9.30 There has been some concern that some housing authorities might not alwaysconsider people with a mental health disability currently residing in HSE communityresidences, family homes or hospitals as a priority for housing as they might be perceived as83Applicants should also be made aware that prioritisation in this context does not necessarily mean thatsuitable housing will be available immediately.113