20/09/07 - Public authorities failing to address disability and race discrimination in housing

New research issued by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) shows that Scotland’s housing strategies are failing to take account of the needs of disabled people and ethnic minority communities.

The review of national and local housing plans highlights that too little has been done to assess the current and future needs of ethnic minorities and disabled people and stresses that greater guidance and scrutiny is required if Scotland is to meet the needs of its aging and changing society.

Worryingly the research also shows that most of the councils studied had no plans to consult ethnic minority or disabled people about their needs for their Housing Investment Plans, which have to be submitted to Government by November.

The research, conducted� by ODS Consulting on behalf of the DRC, examined Scotland’s national housing strategy “Homes for Scotland’s People” and the Housing Plans of a representative sample of� local authority and Communities Scotland offices.

It found that whilst many plans did discuss the housing needs of disabled and ethnic minority communities, a quarter made no mention of them at all. The report notes that some local authorities have been slow to respond to their new duties under the Race Relations and Disability Discrimination Acts, and that some others have responded in an ad-hoc and reactive manner.

There is some good news. For example, local authorities have taken a more robust approach to planning for the needs of gypsy travellers following additional guidance from Communities Scotland and many are responding positively to the housing needs of new migrants. However the overall picture is of a piecemeal and disjointed approach.

Chris Oswald, DRC Head of Policy & Communications, said: “This absence of planning is especially worrying as previous DRC research suggests that 85% of Scots expect to grow old in their own homes, and not have to move into care. But at the current rate of development this won’t be an option as there simply won’t be enough adapted houses to meet demand. Currently nearly 20% of disabled people could benefit from an aid or adaptation to their house and about 62, 000 households need - but don’t have - an accessible bathroom.

“The Government recently announced a review of Scottish housing supply - we hope that this research will help them avert a coming crisis. One in five Scots are disabled and Scotland’s ethnic minority community is growing quickly - this isn’t an issue we can ignore.”

“Hundreds of disabled people are being forced to live in inadequate housing, or move into care homes or hospitals because of a lack of suitably adapted houses. Overcrowding is a major issue for ethnic minorities - over a third of Bangladeshis in Scotland are currently seriously overcrowded. This has very real costs for the Scottish economy� - hospitalisation or care homes are vastly more expensive than caring for someone in their own home, and overcrowding has serious impacts on people’s physical and mental health. The government urgently needs to review its plans and invest in larger, more accessible homes”.

ENDS

For further information and case studies please contact:
Carol Stewart on 0131 527 4044 / 07776 171278
Chris Oswald 0131 527 4030 / 07846 889425

Notes for Editors:

•�The report “Scotland’s approach to Housing Policy & Strategy in Relation to Disability & Race - a review at national and local level” is available at www.drc.org.uk/about_us/drc_scotland/library/research.aspx from Wednesday 19 September.

•�The report was carried out between June and September 2007 and included a review of national policy, the housing strategies of Scotland’s� 32 local authorities and more in-depth fieldwork in five areas. The review team spoke with local authority and Communities Scotland staff, disabled people and ethnic minority groups.�

•�The Disability Rights Commission is a statutory body responsible to Government which aims to eliminate discrimination against Scotland’s one million disabled people. The DRC was supported by an advisory group including the Commission for Racial Equality and Ownership Options.

•�In 2006 in Scotland there were 6901 “wheelchair housing” social homes in Scotland for over 96,000 wheelchair users. The number of accessible homes in the private sector is unknown - however disabled people are twice as likely as non-disabled people to live in socially rented housing.

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