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WQ.238/2020
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR CHILDREN AND HOUSING
BY DEPUTY C.A. ALVES OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 30th JUNE 2020
Question
Will the Minister advise whether new social housing under construction includes disabled access and adaptable living environments to suit a range of disabilities, including access difficulties that result from ageing; and if so, how many units (and what percentage of the total) conform to these criteria?
Answer
All new social housing must meet the Lifetime Home Standard' and be designed to ensure that individuals with supported housing needs, including older people and people with disabilities, are able to access living environments that are suitable for their needs.
Where an individual has a demonstrable housing need that cannot be readily met in social housing, agencies, including Andium Homes, the Housing Gateway, and Health and Community Services – will work together to develop a bespoke housing option for the individual.
Andium Homes is currently on site delivering over 700 new homes. All such homes are developed in line with current Jersey Building Byelaws, which require new homes to be accessible by all and adaptable for the aging population. This is in line with the Discrimination (Disability) (Jersey) Regulations.
• The Building Byelaws set standards which aim to ensure the health and safety of people in and around the buildings, promote energy efficiency and aim to provide access for all, which will include disabilities. Whilst the Byelaws cater for the majority of disabilities, individuals may have very specific needs. Andium has a dedicated Medical Adaptation budget for this purpose.
Andium Homes is also: -
• Working with Health and Social Services to deliver a new purpose-built facility for two clients with significant complex medical and social needs.
• Working with Health and Social Services to deliver 10 x apartments at the newly built Le Squez Phase 4 for clients with Learning disabilities, whilst seeking additional opportunities on future developments that may be suitable for those with varying needs and support.
• Working with Children's Respite Service at Eden House to deliver an extension to the existing facility, whilst seeking opportunities to provide an additional building on future developments.
• Working with Autism Jersey to deliver a new purpose-built facility from which it can deliver its support services, along with several "autism friendly" homes within the development of the Ann Street Brewery site.
• Working with Age Concern Jersey to deliver a new purpose built and fully accessible headquarters for the charity.
• The only social housing provider with a dedicated annual budget of £220k for medical adaptations in existing housing stock, 168 such adaptations were carried out in 2019.
• Andium works closely with the Occupational Therapy Services to ensure adaptations are carried out to the specific needs of the client.
• Andium Homes will also offer clients in bedsits and one bed apartments the choice of a bath or shower as part of its Bathroom Replacement Programme, and larger units if there is a medical need.