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National survey reveals widespread housing problems among families of disabled children

19 November 2002

Disabled children and their parents experience many more problems with unsuitable housing than other families. Nine out of ten families with a severely disabled child report at least one significant difficulty with their homes, while a quarter identify six or more problems, according to the first national survey of their housing needs.

The study carried out by University of York researchers is one of three new reports about disabled children and housing launched today by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. It reveals that only a minority of families with disabled children have received help with their housing needs from statutory agencies – and that, typically, there is no single agency at local level taking lead responsibility for assisting them.

Combining results from the survey of almost 3,000 parents in England with more than 100 interviews with housing, social care and occupational therapy professionals, the researchers found that:

  • Space was a key issue. More than half the parents (55 per cent) said there was too little room in their homes, including space for play, carrying out therapies or storing equipment. The extent of housing space problems for families with a disabled child was substantially greater than a previous national study found for families in general (33 per cent).
  • Four out of ten parents in the survey reported that their homes were cold, damp or in poor repair. Those renting from a local authority or a private landlord were especially likely to report problems. One in seven parents of disabled children (14 per cent) reported inadequate heating, compared with one in 12 (8 per cent) families with children overall.
  • Low-income families with disabled children reported the most difficulties, but even those on middle-incomes had experienced considerable problems with housing.
  • Black and minority ethnic families with a disabled child were more likely to say they had housing problems than their white counterparts.
  • Most families interviewed had already moved house at least once in response to their child’s needs or their own needs as carers. But half the parents responding still said they wanted to move or change their housing for reasons connected to their child’s disability. Although most families (especially those in social housing) identified moving as their preference, they were far less likely to receive help with this than adapting their current home.
  • Three out of four families said their housing needs had never been assessed by an occupational therapist. Among those whose homes had been assessed, almost half said no changes had taken place as a result.

Bryony Beresford, co-author of the study said: “Housing is central to the quality of our lives. Families with a disabled child face many additional difficulties, yet many find themselves living in unsuitable housing that only serves to compound the difficulties they face. Current policy and practice is inadequate in meeting their needs.”

She added: “We did uncover examples of good practice, but they were not widespread and certainly did not permeate the whole process of understanding housing needs. Typically, no single agency or department takes overall responsibility for ensuring that the housing needs of disabled children in their area are met – a situation that should be changed as a matter of urgency.”

Visually-impaired children
A study, by Chris Allen, Jo Milner and Dawn Price, reports the views of 44 visually-impaired children aged 5 to 16 who were interviewed with parents about their homes and surrounding neighbourhoods. This showed that:

  • Visually-impaired children considered the physical design of homes and their neighbourhoods was largely unproblematic because they created ‘memory maps’ of the layout – for example by listening to sounds and counting steps.
  • Moving objects, especially cars, were a particular hazard. This had led parents to restrict their children’s movements, keeping them indoors when traffic was heavy.
  • Children in disadvantaged neighbourhoods had encountered other problems that undermined their confidence, including antisocial behaviour, bullying and drug-users’ discarded needles in public places.
  • Many families wanted to move to a ‘better’ area so their children could play outside. However, local authorities and housing associations tended to give priority to the housing needs of adults, rather than children. Housing providers were also inclined to focus on the medical, rather than social, needs of disabled people.

    • Chris Allen said: “The way that housing allocation policies favour adults over children has, in extreme cases, led to visually-impaired children being placed in housing that is downright dangerous. Several tenants that we spoke to also felt that their local authority or housing association landlord had stereotyped their needs as ‘disabled housing’ when all they really wanted was a better environment for their children to grow up in.”

    The art of the possible
    A third study published today highlights what local agencies and organisations can achieve when the housing needs of families are recognised and acted upon. Housing and disabled children: the art of the possible by Mark Bevan of the University of York draws out lessons from housing-related services that have been commended by the families using them.