04/10/2011

The survey showed the most common type of accommodation provided for people with learning disabilities known to social services are currently: 

• Living with family or friends – 65,000 people (38%)
• Living in registered care home – 38,000 (22%)
• Living in supported accommodation – 27,000 (16%)
• Living as tenants in accommodation provided by local authorities and housing association – 20,700 (12%)
• Living in privately rented accommodation – 5,700 people (3%)
• Living in owner occupied/shared ownership homes – 4,200 (2.5%)
• Living in adult placement schemes – 4,100 (2.4%)
• Living in registered nursing home – 2,8000 (1.6%) Where do people with a learning disability want to live? Most people with a learning disability want to live independently – either by themselves (43%), or sharing a home with friends (30%). However, 13% want to live with another family in the community and another 13% wished to live in residential care. The views of local authorities were as follows
• 82% agreed there is a shortage of housing for adults with a learning disability,
• 94% agreed that more needs to be done to meet the housing needs of people with a learning disability
• 67% agreed that it has become more difficult for adults with a learning disability to have their housing needs met in the last year. 

All local authorities agree that the biggest challenge is financial – an example being the proposed changes to housing benefits and welfare system.

More information is available at www.mencap.org.uk/news/article/pressures-housing

The full report is available to read as a PDF document at: www.mencap.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents