Kilkenny people with disabilities urged to apply for housing

Kilkenny people with disabilities seeking housing are being asked to apply to the local authority.

The Irish Wheelchair Association’s ‘Think Ahead, Think Housing’ campaign advocates for more social housing for people with disabilities in Kilkenny and across the country. 

The Government’s national housing strategy, ‘Housing for All’, aims to increase the supply of social housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade, and local people with a disability are being warned their needs can’t be catered for if they don’t apply.

Eimear Phelan, Services Coordinator with the Irish Wheelchair Association in Kilkenny said, “Think Ahead, Think Housing is for anyone with a disability who wants to move out of home and begin their independent life or for parents of older children with a disability who want to move out but don’t know where to start.

''Our campaign is encouraging and supporting people to think about social housing and apply to their local authority for housing sooner rather than later''.

''Across our membership, we see that there is very little wheelchair liveable housing available through private rental or local authorities''.

Nationally, 1,300 young and middle aged people with physical disabilities have been forced to live in nursing homes for older people due to lack of suitable housing.

''We know that in Kilkenny and across Ireland there isn’t an accessible housing shortage, there is a complete absence of any wheelchair liveable housing options'', she said.

However, the association believes it’s imperative people with disabilities apply to local authorities to increase supply that caters to their needs.

''It is a daunting task to apply for social housing but once you start the process you will find there are supports there to help you and if you are eligible for social housing at least now you have some plans in place to start building a future,'' she concluded.