Operation Sign Up - 2016 Update

Housing Needs Assessed By the Department of Environment & Local Authorities Nationwide

A full statutory Triennial Housing Needs Assessment is currently underway throughout Ireland. Following on from the last Housing Needs Assessment which took place in 2013, people with disabilities were identified as the single largest group with a specific housing need. With this in mind, Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) is highlighting the importance for people with a disability who have a housing need to contact their Local Authority as the assessment will take place over the coming weeks.

The purpose of the assessment is to provide the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government with a national picture of unmet and future housing needs. This information is used to plan to meet the identified need and is also used to inform the allocation of Government funding to housing authorities for their social housing supply programmes.

IWA is working closely alongside its membership, people with disabilities and others with limited mobility to ensure that the housing needs of individuals with disabilities are appropriately recorded and represented on Social Housing Lists nationwide. IWA members make up a significant proportion of the 4,000 people with a disability on Social Housing Lists and the Association are calling on its members to provide details of their social housing requirements.

Speaking about the Triennial Housing Needs Assessment which will continue until early September, Chris Hoey, IWA Director for Community Support Services explained:

All individuals who are currently on the Social Housing List have been written to by their relevant Local Authority. Each person has been asked to confirm they still have a social housing need, by completing a form and to give details of any change in their circumstances. It is vital that this form is completed to ensure that the housing needs of every individual remains registered.

Additionally, any person with a disability who has a housing need, but has yet to register this with their Local Authority are encouraged to complete a Social Housing Application Form while the Needs Assessment is ongoing. IWA's Operation Sign Up page on www.iwa.ie/house gives 10 easy steps to completing a Housing Application Form.

Housing authorities assess and collect information on applicants on a daily basis. However, the statutory Housing Needs Assessment takes place every 3 years and it is essential that anyone who has a housing requirement registers that need with their local authority. The data collected will assist the Department of Environment to assess how many people would be best suited to housing in local authority; private rented; transitional; supported; and specialist support accommodation. IWA has a dedicated microsite www.iwa.ie/house which provides information and details regarding housing issues including; the direct provision of housing; housing information; advice on housing tenures and related services and supports. Anybody who has a query regarding their future housing need is advised to visit the site or contact IWA directly on 01 818 6400 or email customercare@iwa.ie.

As an approved Housing Provider, IWA supports its members to live as independently as possible within their own communities. People with disabilities often have very specific housing and accommodation requirements. There are a variety of options available to meet each individuals circumstances and IWA's housing microsite is designed to provide as much information as possible about the many different housing options available.