1. Poverty in Old Age Housing Conditions in Northern Ireland Policy Implications & Challenges Joe Frey & Heather Porter

2. Introduction Background The evidence – improving housing conditions Rising Fuel Poverty Policy responses – recent NI research The “Big Society” - fiscal realities Conclusion: Age or Class

3. Background Ageing population profile: –“10m expected to reach 100” –NI 2008-18: no. & % of people of pensionable age to rise by 28k (9%) – BUT no. & % of 75+ to rise by 34k (30%) Older People’s Housing Research Programme: overall aim – “to provide a comprehensive assessment of the current provision of housing for older people, determine the adequacy of this provision; identify what new accommodation models and services are required as well as the policy implications of these findings” Desire to “age in place”

4. Housing Conditions: NIHCS Data Source: successive house condition surveys undertaken on a regular basis – every 3-5 years (Sample size:3-8,000) Remarkable improvement in housing conditions from the early 1970s when almost one quarter of all dwellings in NI failed the statutory fitness standard to 2009 when the figure was <3% BUT analyses have indicated that older people in particular still live in poorer housing conditions.

5. Household Growth: 2001-2009

6. Housing Conditions (1): Tenure HRP60-74HRP 75+ O/O20017462 20097771 PRS200147 200969 Social20012231 20091820

7. Housing Conditions (2):Age & Condition 2009: 18% of 75+ in pre-1919 (overall 13% - and 10% for 60-74) 2009: 3% of all 75+ in unfit homes (1% overall for occupied housing) 2009: 50% of 7,000 occupied unfits – occupied by 60+ Clear relationship between age of property/age of HRP and housing conditions.

8. Housing Conditions (3): Basic repair costs 2001 (£)2009 (£) 18-24773563 25-39638443 40-59894708 60-741,159555 75+1,579974

9. Housing Conditions (4): Decent Homes 2009: 28% of 75+ age group in non- decent homes (overall 14% and 12% 60-74) Fail primarily on “thermal comfort”: requires dwellings to have “effective insulation and efficient heating”

10. Housing Conditions (5): Energy Efficiency SAP rating (Standard Assessment Procedure) developed by the BRE 41% of all homes with SAP < 20 had HRP of 75+ 20012009 All4658 60-744557 75+4253

11. Rising Fuel Poverty NI has significantly higher levels of FP than GB – combination of lower incomes and higher dependency on oil, solid fuel electricity 200120062009 All273444 60 -74 324353 75 + 465676

12. Policy Responses (1): New Build Paris & Porter (2010): high levels of home ownership in areas of demand for increased supply of age-specific housing – not much evidence to support general increase in social housing Health-related frailty a major reason for needing to move – rapid growth in 85+ - increasing need for care-related residential accommodation – rapid rise in dementia Life time homes as standard for new build

13. Policy Responses (2): Supported Living Social Research Centre (2010): Barn Halt Cottages: 26 units – provides accommodation, care and support to frail older people who require more than 10 hours care a week Alternative to residential care Mix of assistive technology, staff support and social activities coupled with the design of the scheme facilitates opportunities for independence and a good quality of life for older people with a range of needs. Issue is cost – substantial in terms of ongoing SP and Care funding.

14. Supported Living: Barn Halt

16. Policy Responses (3): Home Improvement Grants Traditional approach – significant expenditure since the 1970s Problems: –Reluctance of older to move or go through trauma of major improvement work: “Won’t it do me rightly”! (Rural Community Network, 2007) –Significant reductions grant budget: cut by two-thirds over a three year period. Focus on Disabled Facilities Grant

17. Policy Responses (3): Equity Release Fiona Boyle Associates (2010): potential of equity release in NI to fund home improvements / repair (48% of older owner occupiers have some disrepair (HCS,2009). Issues in relation to commercial viability, falling house prices, lack of information, value for money, affects welfare benefits, risk – resistance because of desire to pass on accumulated wealth.

18. Policy Options (4) Care & repair / HIA Services Core Services: –repairs and adaptations –housing-related advice and information Ancillary –handyperson –falls prevention / Home safety check –gardening services –energy efficiency advice –hospital release support

19. Policy Options (4/1) HIA The structure and provision of HIA services in N.Ireland is complex and fragmented There is no central strategy supporting development There is a statutory commitment to funding albeit indirectly Community and voluntary sector play a crucial role in delivering services at local level – few NI wide examples. There is a need for a NI wide model that is flexible enough to react to local demand. It needs to be an interagency approach / social economy model delivered at community level.

20. Policy Options (5): Electronic Assistive Technology (Martin (2010): Positive contribution EAT can make in reducing burden on carers and supporting risk management – major contribution to “aging in place” & cluster living. Needs to be introduced at an earlier stage in provision of support General awareness of products – but much more specific knowledge required – and increased level of finance.

21. Big Society – Fiscal realities “Big Society”: “a guiding philosophy – a society where the leading force for progress is social responsibility, not state control”… Underlying approaches include: “breaking state monopolies, allowing charities, social enterprises and companies”. Privatization – “rolling back the state” – by another name?

22. Big Society – Fiscal Realities (2) Social policy being driven by ambitious deficit reduction plan: March Budget measures: –Winter Fuel Payment reduction (up to £100) –No increase in personal allowance (£630) for older people from 2012 –Increase in state pension – but price increases on food and fuel hit the elderly disproportionately

23. Fiscal Realities – Fuel Poverty “New Fuel Poverty Strategy for NI” (2011) –Committed to “eradication”!! –Sound evidence base –Focus on increasing energy efficiency –Energy brokering –New definition of Fuel Poverty (Hills review) –Education, benefit uptake simplified welfare BUT if incomes raised by £2,500 – would have “eradicated” approximately 50% of Fuel Poverty

24. Fuel Poverty – income a key issue Median incomes FRS 2008/9 (NI) –for lone older: £10,600 –for two person older: £20,300 –For all households: £25,000 Limits to energy efficiency measures – huge programme of retro-fitting unrealistic Fuel prices to remain high

25. Conclusion: Age or Class Fuel Poverty analysis (as well as housing conditions of older people generally) indicates that much of the problem is about low incomes – it is essentially a class issue. Attributing relative importance of causes in statistical terms is more about modelling change than underlying causes. Politicians and policy makers tend to avoid the income (class) issue – seen as a given – addressing it would need a serious re- distribution of wealth/resources!