Finding a place to live Dorchester housing event

Why housing matters Most young adults leave home... … but many young people with learning disabilities don’t Better to plan now … … than have an emergency move Housing is the key to independence and choice for all of us

Finding a place to live Housing: Renting Home ownership How do you find it? Support How much Where from How do you find it? Examples Individual (rented cluster flat) Shared housing Shared ownership All with family involvement

Housing options Rented housing Social renting (council or housing association) Private renting Private renting from family, Trust or charity Home ownership Outright ownership Shared ownership With govt funding With family funding

Support options Commissioned by local authority? Less work but may have less choice Individual budget? Choose your own support provider Or employ staff direct Level of support? Anything from a few hours a week to 24/7 & 365 days Staff work with other residents in shared housing 1-1 in individual housing

Housing and support: advantages Housing and the support service are separate so you can change one without the other You can choose where and how you live, who you live with, and become more independent Tenancy, or home ownership, gives rights, responsibilities, a stake in the local community You get more money: benefits for housing costs, council tax, living expenses & disability Paid work becomes possible if you want to – in rented housing - but problems with ownership options & benefits system

What sort of housing? Living with others In shared supported housing With a support tenant With a family (family placement, self-contained annexe) Living on your own In your own flat, house or bungalow In cluster flats or extra-care (a number of flats together) In a dispersed network (like KeyRing)

Housing: sharing or living alone? Company and friends Help from other tenants Staff in the house Organised activities BUT risk of not getting on well with others, may not be able to choose new tenants Independence, privacy – your own front door In charge – more freedom Individual support tailored to suit needs BUT risk of loneliness, boredom

Support and activities - essential for successful supported living College courses Holidays Social networks Worship Paid work Voluntary work Sports, leisure activities Relationships What else would you need?

My Housing Option Plan 1.Start with the person: ideas for future? what good at? what need help with? 2.Do they want to move? How soon? 3.Who else knows them & can help with ideas, information? Family? Friends? Professionals? Does everyone agree? 4.Choosing a home: sharing, own front door, owning or renting? 5.Support options – level and types of support based on needs and wishes 6.Writing down the ideas and how to make things happen – who will do what

Housing: rent? buy? area? Renting – usually housing associations Shared ownership – part-rent, part-buy Choice of area – quiet or lively? Near: shops, buses? work, college? friends, family?

Alison: individual flat in “cluster” Self-contained modern flat: bedroom, living room, kitchen and bathroom Limited hours from on-site support staff for all tenants (Knightstone) 12 flats in block Central location Near shops etc Tenancy rights

Alison: support service Service “brokered” by family Alison and family chose United Response (new provider SGlos) New team, 3 core staff Alison and family involved in recruitment & training Flexible contract, average 30 hours a week, annualised hours Our choice to have contract with United Response managed by SGlos Council

In her flat and community Cooking, shopping Money, bills Medication reminders Visits to doctor, dentist Support with voluntary work Social activities Safety at home and in community What other help, care or support would you need? 30 hours a week support for: Housework and managing the flat

Dean: shared house Brand new four bedroomed detached house in Portishead. Golden Lane Housing (Mencap)

Shared house Four young men All different needs. All same sort of age.

Support Brandon Trust – the 8 parents’ choice New team, 7 support staff 4 YP involved in recruitment Varied levels of support to suit individual needs. One overnight sleep in Contract managed by North Somerset Council

In the house and community Cooking, shopping Money, bills Medication reminders, doctor, dentist College Safety … Support needed for: Housework and managing the house Life skills Sports Theatre Musicals Concerts ICT Employment Train spotting

Home ownership – resale: 2-bed older or newer houses

Home ownership – new build Can be wheelchair accessible Can be individual or in a group of flats or bungalows together

Home ownership examples Andy: autistic spectrum, in shared housing about to buy his own semi-detached 2-bed house through Advance (housing association) using HOLD (Home Ownership for people with Long-term Disabilities) Pay rent to Advance (Housing Benefit) Pay mortgage to building society (interest only) covered by Income Support Support contract through local authority 24/7 support 1-1 reducing at night over time

Home ownership examples Jilly: physical disablility and communication needs, uses wheelchair in respite care after being made homeless when landlord of private rented shared house gave notice about to buy her own new-build 2-bed flat through local housing association using HOLD Rent and mortgage as for Andy Employing own PAs with Individual Budget