National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011 - 2016

eviewed maximum rent limits to reflect reduced rental costs and to achieve maximum valuefor money for the Exchequer. While many rent limits were reduced in this review, rates forsingle people living on their own were not reduced in the majority of counties. The rates forDublin were also, largely, unchanged. CWOs continue to have flexibility to take account ofrealities in their own local areas.The Government’s new Housing Policy Statement, published in June 2011, provides for thetransfer of responsibility for providing for the housing needs of long term rent supplementrecipients to housing authorities on a phased basis. This is in recognition of the fact thatrent supplement, although intended as only a short term income support, has become amainstream social housing support. A working group has been established by DECLG, withthe Department of Social Protection and local authorities, to develop proposals to give effectto this commitment.(f) Supports to people with disabilities – consideration should be given as to how bestpeople with disabilities can be supported, either moving into, or living in the private rentedsector, including through assisting to move to appropriate accommodation, adjusting tomore independent living, provision of information on housing options, tenancy rights, etc,and coordination of relevant supports. While existing housing advice services may provideassistance in this regard, the Citizens Information Board’s (CIB) National Advocacy Servicefor People with Disabilities, if established, could also play an important role, in addition toongoing supports provided by voluntary organisations, in supporting people with disabilitiesin the private rental sector.An initiative to support homeless people in the private rental sector is being operatedbetween Threshold’s Access Housing Unit and Dublin City Council with the aim ofprogressing the Government’s commitment to end long term homelessness. A need andopportunity was identified to utilise the private rented sector as an interim step forward toimprove the position of long term homelessness. Under this initiative, Threshold sourceprivate rental units in the Dublin area through engagement with landlords and tenants.Where necessary, relevant supports are provided to tenants under the Slí Scheme to assistthem progress from homelessness to independent living in mainstream housing.Conclusions5.42 Effectively meeting the housing needs of people with disabilities will require a varietyof different approaches in order to deliver the appropriate response and requires a strongfocus on evidence based policy and practice. It is recommended that a pilot programme bedeveloped to test good practice in sustainable communities for people with disabilities whichcould focus on, inter alia, housing design and tenure, effective interagency cooperation andperson centred responses.62