The IWA Housing Support Service is based primarily in Dublin and provides information on housing options for people with limited mobility. Housing Officer, Dolores Murphy, works with IWA service users to bring about their desired living situation, be it independent living, adapted housing, home purchase or residential accommodation. This service was established in response to the difficulties encountered by many people with limited mobility in finding appropriate accessible accommodation.

As part of its role, the IWA Housing Support Service maintains an awareness of:

• Planned social housing developments, and the procedures required by the relevant local authorities and agencies to pursue a housing application.
• Government schemes designed to support first time buyers in buying a home at a reasonable price e.g. the Shared Ownership Scheme and the Affordable Housing Scheme.
• The Rent Subsidy Scheme administered by the Health Boards to support people receiving social welfare payments in funding privately rented accommodation.
• Existing and planned residential and sheltered accommodation options.
• The availability of, and the application procedures for, housing adaptation grants.

The IWA Housing Support Service lobbies government departments, local authorities and voluntary housing providers to increase awareness and encourage the development of action plans to meet the specific accommodation requirements of people with limited mobility in housing, supported housing and residential care developments.

For more information or to register with IWA Housing Support Service, contact Dolores Murphy at dolores.murphy@iwa.ie or 01 818 6400