Housing and the future This is a presentation which was given to families of young adults who attended a session at Charlton Park Academy of 10th March We also asked people about the concerns they had about the future. These are collected at the end of the presentation. 1

Mark McGoogan from Golden Lane Housing 2 2

Part of Royal Mencap Society We share our knowledge and experience A new housing strategy for people with learning disabilities 3

I am going to talk about housing Ignore support and how to get it – till the end 4

Housing Options Shared registered care homes Shared supported living Self-contained Shared lives Families 5 5

Registered Care and Supported Living Shared registered care homes Shared supported living Support usually comes with the house Differences between Registered Care and Supported Living Tenancy ..who provides you support……who pays the cost of housing 6 6

Registered Care and Supported Living Lots of these in Greenwich Not enough for everyone Need more to stop people going out of area. 180 people in borough live this way……48 different locations….variety of needs 7 7

Registered Care and Supported Living Property and support from Housing associations, charities and private sector. Easier to change your support provider in supported living In Greenwich mostly registered care. 8 8

Shared Lives Historically people with low or moderate needs Live with a family in a family home Also a respite service 30-40 people in Greenwich 9 9

Many families want to stay together Make a plan for the family home We have been asked ensuring people with ensuring we produce the strategy WITH people with learning disabilities, their families, carers advocates and people who know them best. Creating a Housing Strategy is the first phase of a long term project – agreeing what needs to be done. The second phase is carrying out the strategy that is agreed. The strategy will set out what the council needs to do in order to make sure that people with a learning disability have choices about where they live, that accommodation-based services are good quality and that there is enough capacity to offer people a home in the borough. The strategy will be used by the council and others to guide their future decisions and actions on such things as; Where and how to invest in the future. It covers everyone with a learning disability including those who are under 18 whose future needs we will need to allow for. It does not cover specific services or investments needs in phase 1. Implementing the strategy is part of phase 2. A few families can invest in housing and become landlords DIY version of supported living 10

Council Housing Usually people with low or moderate needs. Mostly couples or single people with a learning disability Choice based lettings – need A or B band – 93 to 690 bids per vacancy last week Can get a direct let and you can get support to bid 11 11

MONEY

MONEY You know what you can claim Helpful additions https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/search.aspx Helpful additions Severe disability premium or PIP means your rate moves from shared to self-contained rate, even in shared housing If you need an extra bedroom for support worker to sleepover, you may get a 2-bed rate Under 35 years old? You can still get a self-contained rate provided you have PIP or DLA higher or middle rate care You can get LHA while at college – but take note of the primary residence rules

Local Housing Allowance Mar ‘17 Outer west London Shared room in a house £84.27/week = £365/month One bedroom property, self-contained £161/week = £697/month Two bedroom property, self contained £198.11/week = £858/month Rates are per person https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/search.aspx

Local Housing Allowance – What could you get within 1/2 mile of Charlton Park Academy SE7 8HX 1 person seeking a 1 bed flat Kinveachy Gardens £1,100/month 3 people sharing a 4 bed house; with support sleeping over – Fairfield Grove £2,000/month

Family-funded – life after college You probably know a landlord or an estate agent? If not; you will know someone that does Great tenants pay their rent, look after the place like their own home- and stay a long time. That sounds like US!

Buy with mortgage or buy to let? Families Buy with mortgage or buy to let? If you can put down a deposit of say 15- 30 % Even though you have a learning disability you may be able to get a mortgage A benefit called support for mortgage interest can pay the interest This is changing to a loan in 2018 May be able to rent first – buy later – Housing Association shared ownership?

How to know if you will qualify for support if you move Contact Adult Social Care There is a threshold you have to meet – eligibility criteria https://www.greenwichcommunitydirectory.org.uk/kb5/greenwich/asch/ast.page 18

We asked people what their concerns were The next few slides illuminate what families who care for young people with learning disabilities told us about housing and support 19

Concerns shared by most The threshold for getting support is too high-cant believe there’s no support for families caring for loved ones with such a high level of disability. How can carers keep up/take on their job/career No EHC plans - for nearly everyone – all but 2 people (out of 20+) were still ‘in the system’ for EHC plans; i.e. something was happening but people weren’t quite sure what was going on or when it would be done. Almost universal loss of confidence that anything meaningful would result. 20

Social Housing doesn’t recognise people’s needs – Concerns shared by some Housing strategy will be a tick box exercise - that’s the experience of people and council plans; and nothing will change for people and their carers Social Housing doesn’t recognise people’s needs – caring for someone with autism where siblings have to share a bedroom Caring for a young man with autism in the private rented sector with no security and no way of planning a future. 21

Concerns shared by some If you live in the private sector – you get less in terms of help with adaptations etc than council tenants If you are not on benefits – you have to pay for everything and it costs a fortune when you add it all up – trying to give your loved on a decent life 22

Concerns for some people Being ignored by housing when requesting adaptation for someone with autism – the system appeared not to recognise when a vulnerable person lives at the property (see also good points when the system does work well) 23

Concerns for some people Support withdrawn without explanation – ‘everything stopped when he left children’s services’ – no explanation or assessment. 24

We would ask people to continue to tell us what their concerns and hopes are for changes http://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/HousinginGreenwichsurvey3/ 25

Mark McGoogan & Ruth Smith from Golden Lane Housing Ruth.smith@glh.org.uk markmcgoogan@gmail.com 26 26