Local authorities were invited to bid for £80 million of funding to build extra care housing that would allow older people and those with long-term conditions to live in a home of their own.
People who are unable to continue to live in their own homes have traditionally had their choices limited to care homes, creating a number of problems, including couples finding they can no longer live together, a loss of autonomy and not having their own space.
Extra Care Housing offers a solution to many of these problems, as it gives people a home of their own where wide ranges of care and support services are provided on site.
Since 2004, 905 extra care housing schemes have been built or are under construction in England, providing over 37,000 homes. The £80 million now made available aims to encourage the continued development of this type of accommodation in England where need has been established.
The grant will be allocated during 2008-2010; £40 million in 2008-2009 and £40 million in 2009-2010.
