£20 million for Independent Living

The government has announced £20 million in extra funding in England towards the supply and installation of housing adaptations to allow disabled and elderly people to continue to live independently in their own homes.

The Disabled Facilities Grant will be awarded to people to pay for adaptations such as grab rails, wheelchair ramps and accessible bathroom or kitchen facilities.

Housing Minister, Grant Shapps, revealed the new funding as part of a £51 million programme to support independent living.  He commented: “The government is offering a new deal for older and disabled people, backed with millions of pounds of government cash, to ensure residents get the support they need to live independently and comfortably in their own home.”

Protecting the Vulnerable

The extra money will be distributed locally through Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs).  One of the aims of the additional funding is that HIA will be able to help people access reliable trades people to carry out any necessary adaptations and installations and prevent vulnerable people from being overcharged by ‘rogue traders’.

The grants will enable councils to fund adaptations to peoples’ homes, helping them live independently and saving them from an unnecessary stay in hospital or going into residential care.  Under government proposals local councils will now also be obliged to ensure appropriate numbers of accessible houses are included in their future housing plans.

For more information on applying for a Disabled Facilities Grant, or to find out where your local Home Improvement Agency is, call Foundations on 0845 8645210.