Inclusion London’s evidence to EHRC’s Housing for Disabled people inquiry 

Inclusion London submitted evidence to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) inquiry into housing for Disabled people.

Inclusion London submitted evidence to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) inquiry into housing for Disabled people. Read the evidence here: Inclusion London evidence EHRC Housing inquiry 2017 (Final)

The key issues we raised are summarised below:

Key housing issues for Disabled people include:

  • The lack of accessible or affordable housing;
  • Institutionalisation, which is eroding Disabled people’s rights under Article 19 UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRDP)[1] due to:
    • The lack of progress in moving people with learning difficulties from hospitals to their communities;
    • Introduction of “maximum expenditure” policies[2] that will move Disabled people into institutions against their wishes.
  • Government’s proposals to cap Housing Benefit rates for the social housing sector at the same level as the Local Housing Allowance from 2018 onwards,[3] threatening the provision of supported housing.
  • Discrimination against Disabled people in the private rented sector
  • Need for support and advocacy.
  • The cost of adaptions, which is driving disabled people into debt;
  • The need for secure tenancies.
  • The impact of the ‘removal of the spare room subsidy’.
  • Evictions due to sanctions and benefit delays.
  • Housing and support for homeless people
  • Regulations: the need for building regulations under the M4(2) to be strengthened and complied with by all local authorities.

[1]http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRPD/Pages/ConventionRightsPersonsWithDisabilities.aspx#19

[2] Following a judicial review, the High Court rejected a challenge to Worcestershire Council’s “maximum expenditure policy”, which would set a limit on the amount the council will spend on supporting a disabled adult in the community equivalent to the cost of meeting their eligible needs in a care home. http://www.communitycare.co.uk/2017/02/22/care-package-savings-drive-risks-shift-care-home-placements/

[3] https://www.mencap.org.uk/press-release/government-proposals-supported-housing-risks-housing-crisis-people-learning