Rowntree Foundation Finds Housing for Disabled Children in U.K. Inadequate
By Kay Schriner (kays@uark.edu)
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, a large social policy research and development organization in the United Kingdom, finds that 90% of families with a severely disabled child report inadequate housing - that is, there is at least one significant difficulty with their homes.
About 25% of the 3000 parents surveyed by the Foundation reported six or more problems with their housing. Among the problems cited by parents were a lack of adequate space for daily activities such as playing, and using and storing equipment necessary for children's therapy.
Families report that they often don't have the information they need to improve their housing and would greatly benefit from 'one-stop shops' providing one centralized source of information for families.
Some agencies are making admirable efforts to respond to families' needs, according to the report. The most responsive agencies are coordinating their services, assigning workers who are knowledgeable and helpful, and trying new funding arrangements to offer families the space and support they need. In some instances, agencies are using discretionary funding to find play space for children.
Parents place great value on trustworthy, honest, and open service providers who respect families' dignity.
There is no one local agency taking responsibility for meeting families' housing needs, so for now, parents and kids must rely on a patchwork of services from a number of sources. Bryony Beresford, the author of the Rowntree Foundation, says that "Current policy and practice is adequate..." and urges reforms of public policy.
Information for this story was taken from the British Broadcasting Company's on-line newspaper and the website of the Rowntree Foundation (www.jrf.org.uk).
|
