The disability rights lobby – which included the Disability Rights Commission, RADAR, Papworth Trust, Habinteg Housing Association and John Grooms Housing Association and us – did not succeed in getting the Housing Act amended to make disability housing registers compulsory.

But we did achieve some progress in terms of better meeting the housing needs of disabled people. The act includes an amendment as follows: “grounds relating to disability” has now been inserted under “people to whom preference is to be given in allocating housing accommodation” in section 167 (2) (d) of the act 1996.

This represents some further recognition by the government of the role of disability in defining people’s housing needs.

Much more must be done. Nevertheless, we believe this is an important landmark in our quest to improve housing resources for disabled people.

Virginia Shaw, director National Disabled Persons Housing Service

Source

Housing Today