Sheltered Housing Schemes Approved By Council Cabinet
East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s cabinet has today approved the publication of the authority’s strategic plan for its sheltered housing schemes, which comprise 1,800 flats and bungalows spread over 50 sites across the area.
The purpose of the plan is to outline the steps the council is undertaking to ensure that housing designated for older people is of a high standard and is designed to offer secure and attractive places for tenants to enjoy living in. This will help support vulnerable people to live independently at home, a key priority for the council.
The strategic plan identifies five objectives to deliver against:
• accommodation meets the needs and aspirations of older people now and in the future
• accommodation enables good links with health and social care agencies to promote improved wellbeing for older people
• properties are allocated to those in greatest need
• low-demand schemes are re-categorised and new supply promoted in areas of high housing need and
• the range of support services offered to older people is reviewed.
Quality Sheltered Housing is important
Councillor Symon Fraser, cabinet portfolio holder for asset management, housing and environment at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “Quality sheltered housing is important for so many reasons, not least for the tenant living there.
“As the main sheltered housing provider in the East Riding, it is important that the council takes a proactive approach to the management of its stock, as this benefits both the tenant and the authority.
“High-quality sheltered housing allows vulnerable people to live independently and promotes good health and wellbeing. As well as benefiting the tenant, this also reduces costs to the council and local taxpayers, helping prevent costly care bills and reducing pressures on health services.
“This strategic plan will help the council prioritise what funding it has available to ensure properties continue to meet the requirements of residents.”
Investment in sheltered housing will be determined using data from a comprehensive needs analysis, undertaken following consultation with staff and residents.
Information will be gathered to inform which schemes are refurbished to modern standards and locations for investment in new housing designated for older people. Any schemes which are declared surplus or unsustainable for older people’s housing will be converted to general needs accommodation.
