National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011 - 2016

5.23 Furthermore, a major role is envisaged for the voluntary and cooperative sector inthe roll-out of the leasing initiative. A number of proposals have been submitted byapproved housing bodies which would see them take on unsold units from developers on astraightforward lease basis or purchase unsold units from developers / financial institutionsand then lease these to a local authority for use as social housing.5.24 The Housing Finance Agency (HFA) has put a mechanism in place allowing approvedhousing bodies direct access to HFA finance. Approved housing bodies will be able to buildor acquire new social housing, using leasing payments from the Department to service theirborrowings. At the end of the loan period the approved housing body will own the unitswhich will either continue to be made available for social housing purposes or may be soldto sitting tenants.5.25 The Government’s new Housing Policy Statement (June 2011) recognises a moreprominent and active role for the voluntary and cooperative housing sector. The use of loanfinance (from both commercial lending institutions and the Housing Finance Agency) has thepotential to develop a stronger, more sustainably funded voluntary and co-operative housingsector, playing a much more active role in the supply of social housing without reliance oncapital funding from the Exchequer. It also has the potential to further promote theevolution of mixed tenure communities through the provision of housing for market sale andrent as well as social renting and will offer a new path to ownership via sales to tenantsunder incremental purchase arrangements.Voluntary Housing and People with Disabilities5.26 The voluntary housing sector plays a significant role in the provision of social housingin partnership with local authorities. It is a key provider of social housing to people withdisabilities and many housing associations also offer non housing and related services totenants such as social activities, meals and support staff. In recent years there has been amarked increase in the use of CAS by organisations providing accommodation for peoplewith intellectual and mental health disabilities. In 2010 the Irish Council for Social Housing(ICSH) worked with 83 member organisations providing housing solely to people withdisabilities. This group of organisations has a total of 2,334 units. A further 59 ICSHmember organisations cater for people with disabilities in conjunction with other categories.While, it can be difficult to distinguish the level of provision for people with various typesdisabilities for most of these organisations, there are 2 that can be specified:• St. John of God’s Trust – 233 units for people with an intellectual disability; and• HAIL – 116 special needs units for people with mental health disabilities.55