Housing and disabled children

Introduction

This programme aims to explore the disadvantage experienced by families with disabled children in the housing market, to raise awareness of the importance of suitable accommodation to these families, and to help effect change.

Housing Matters is a film that explores the issues disabled children and their families face in finding suitable accomodation.

Key issues

• Most families with disabled children report that their homes are unsuitable for their child's needs and the associated needs of other family members in a number of ways;
• families with a disabled child are less likely to be living in a decent home and are 50% more likely to live with overcrowding and disrepair;
• of all the disabled people requiring specifically adapted homes, children are the least likely to be living in suitable accommodation;
• adverse housing circumstances affect children with all types of impairment in all housing tenures;
• improvements to these families' housing are difficult to come by but can lead to disabled children becoming more independent and self-reliant.

Key links

• The 'Every disabled child matters' coalition of children's charities.
• Family Experiences of Accessing Disabled Facilities Grants