National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027
The National Housing Strategy for Disabled People sets out the vision for the cooperation and collaboration of Government departments, state agencies and others in delivering housing and the related supports for disabled people.
The link to the strategy is here – The National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027
The vision for the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People is:
- To facilitate disabled people to live independently with the appropriate choices and control over where, how and with whom they live, promoting their inclusion in the community.
- To further enable equal access for disabled people to housing with integrated support services.
Following the launch of the Strategy an Implementation Plan was developed which contains 27 outcomes and 107 actions. The Housing Agency is one of the lead organisations with responsibility for several actions.
Strategy Governance
National Implementation Steering Group (NISG)
This group, established in February 2023, is responsible for driving the implementation of the Strategy and the monitoring of progress. This group is chaired by The Housing Agency and meets on a bi-monthly basis.
Housing and Disability Steering Groups (HDSGs)
Housing and Disability Steering Groups (HDSGs) were established in each local authority area under the National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011 to 2016 (extended to 2021).
The Strategy reaffirms the structure of the Housing and Disability Steering Groups as the most effective forum for the delivery of the outcomes of the Strategy at local level. The Housing Agency engages with all HDSG’s.
Regional Interagency Groups
Initially these Groups were established based on the HSE Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) areas but have been re-aligned to the recent re-organisation of the HSE. The role of these Groups is to bring together the local authority dedicated disability representatives and the HSE dedicated housing representatives for both Disability Services and Mental Health Services to allow for cooperation and collaboration at an operational level. The Groups are facilitated by The Housing Agency, who chair and provide administrative support to the Groups.
Home and Supports Hub Website
The Housing Agency developed a website, which is an action contained in the Implementation Plan. This website brings together useful information and resources for disabled people. This website is a tool for people to find information on housing and the supports they need to facilitate independent living. You can visit this website here Accessible Information On Housing And Related Supports For Independent Living
Practitioner Training
The Disability Services Team in The Housing Agency plays a central role in the enhancement of knowledge, capacity, and expertise of housing practitioners involved in the implementation of the strategy. Our aim is to help to ensure that practitioners have the right expertise and capacity to provide services and relevant information to disabled people.
If you have any questions about training provided by The Housing Agency, or you are seeking information about training provided by other organisations, please don’t hesitate to contact us by email – disabilityservices@housingagency.ie.
NHSDP Awareness Campaign ‘Journey to Independent Living’.
Another area of work the Housing Agency is involved in is raising awareness of the Strategy and issues relating to its implementation. For example, in 2024, a national campaign called ‘Journey to Independent Living’ was launched to raise awareness around the housing options and associated supports that are available to disabled people who wish to live independently in their communities. More information can be found here Journey to Independent Living
Another awareness campaign will be launched in Autumn 2025.