National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011 - 2016

household preferences. This should be supported by the interviewing of applicants as partof the assessment process.6.7 Where housing authorities have determined that a household has a social housingneed, authorities will produce assessment reports which identify the type of accommodationand/or the support needs required, including those supports provided by other agencies,and an indication of the type of accommodation that would be most suitable to meet thehousehold’s need. These reports will be used by authorities to make supply and allocationdecisions. While the assessment report is not notified to the applicant, it is recommendedthat a mechanism be put in place where applicants, particularly those with disabilities, areprovided with a standardised statement of housing need based on the information gatheredthrough the assessment process setting out the type of housing and supports required.6.8 In order to ensure that applicants are in need of, and eligible for social housingsupport at the allocation stage, housing authorities will carry out an assessment review aspart of the housing needs assessment process. This mechanism is important for peoplewith disabilities who, for example, may have a progressive disability or whose general needsmay have changed over time. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that thehousing authority is kept reasonably updated regarding any change in circumstances.6.9 All applications for social housing support received from 1 April 2011 are assessedunder the revised criteria. For households who were on local authority housing waiting listsprior to that date, housing authorities may either reassess all households under the newcriteria, or undertake a targeted approach which identifies certain groups or sub sections ofthe housing list, or undertake a review when an allocation of support is being considered.In the case of people with disabilities, this strategy recommends that all householdscontaining a person with either a physical, intellectual, sensory or mental health disability beconsidered for early reassessment under the new regime.6.10 Any person aged 18 or over, may apply to a housing authority for social housingsupport including people with disabilities residing in institutions or as adults in the familyhome. In determining eligibility for social housing support housing authorities havediscretion, on a case by case basis, to allow that a person in currently adequateaccommodation could be assessed as having a housing need if there is a high probabilitythat there will be a housing need arising in the future. An example of this would behouseholds which include a member with a disability, who is cared for by ageing parents,and whose housing need may not be acute at the moment but who may requireconsideration for housing in the event that parents die or are no longer able to provide care.This consideration is essential in order to assist in preventing crisis housing situations arising65