The volunteer team at advice charity Housing Options Scotland are conducting research into the provisions in place to support applicants with learning disabilities across Scotland’s social rented sector. The volunteers are contacting housing associations across Scotland to find out what support is included in their allocation policies to help people with learning disabilities access housing.
The team have conducted an initial review of the allocation policies of different housing associations, but want to hear from as many housing associations as possible to find out more about the policies and practices in place across the sector.
Moira Bayne, Housing Options Scotland CEO, said: “We know from experience that some of our clients find accessing social housing tricky – especially so if they have a learning disability which makes tasks like filling out application forms more difficult. We want to find out more about what housing associations are doing to make that process easier for applicants.”
Volunteer Lindsay Roches added: “At first glance, it seems like some housing associations do reference supporting applicants with learning disabilities in their allocation policies, but this varies across the sector. We want to find examples of good practice to share.”
Tessa Brown, a second volunteer working on the project, said: “If any housing association is working on this, we’re really keen to speak with you. It might be that your team offers support to fill out application forms, or that you offer priority to applicants with a learning disability, for example.”
If you work in a housing association and have provisions in place to support applicants with a learning disability, please contact Ben Parker on ben@housingoptionsscotland.org.uk or 07394566633.