National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011 - 2016

Chapter 6 Assessment andPrioritisation6.1 A comprehensive and inclusive assessment of need is the gateway for households tothe range of social housing supports available from housing authorities and enablesauthorities to plan strategically for the provision of housing options tailored to meet theneeds of those who require housing support in their functional areas. In the case of peoplewith disabilities, the assessment must also assist in identifying the supports necessary tomeet housing need and, where possible, individual preferences.6.2 As part of the social housing reform agenda, it was recognised that a new system ofassessment of housing need was required in order to put in place a modern system ofhousing supports, including through providing an improved basis for policy development andservice delivery.6.3 The legal framework for the new assessment of need process was included in theHousing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and was brought into operation by regulationon 1 April 2011 34 . The new system provides for:• The introduction of new and clearer criteria for determining eligibility for social housingsupport. In the case of disability, the extent to which a household’s existingaccommodation meets the accommodation requirements arising from an enduringphysical, sensory, mental health or intellectual disability of a household member is acriterion in determining that household’s need for social housing support;• The development of a new assessment approach to provide access to a range of socialhousing supports (including permanent and leased local authority housing, housingprovided by approved housing bodies, sites for building and Traveller accommodationsites) rather than being seen simply as a means of joining a waiting list for localauthority housing;• A housing needs assessment that will more fully reflect the lifecycle approach to theprovision of social services, thereby ensuring that long term dependencies on the welfarestate are not inadvertently created;• The setting of standard parameters for the assessment of need such that an assessmentby one housing authority can be used by all authorities; and• Production of summaries of social housing assessments in order to provide the most upto date and accurate picture of housing need upon which to base strategic and financialdecisions.34Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 (S.I. 84 of 2011)63