[KF] The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) should continue to prioritise investment in specialist housing provision, and meeting the needs of vulnerable and older people should be embedded in the Agency's Local Investment Planning process - according to a report published by the Agency's Vulnerable and Older People Advisory Group.
The annual report of the HCA's Vulnerable and Older People Advisory Group (VOPAG) shows that the Agency invested £880 million in specialist housing up to 31 March 2010 - over 14% of its total investment for housing to rent over the same period - providing 15,000 new homes.
Every region received a share of funding, and in four regions investment in specialist housing for rent was greater than 20% of all investment in homes for rent in that region.
The VOPAG Annual report highlights an ageing population and changing demographics as being among the Country's greatest housing challenges - while outlining areas of opportunity such as new investment models, changing policy, and the emergence of the Government's personalisation agenda. p>
Peer Reviews Helps Set Standards
People with learning disabilities have seen increasing improvements across the health, employment and housing sectors.
Speaking at the Learning Disability Today Conference, Care Services Minister Paul Burstow outlined progress that has been made over the past eighteen months as he launched the Valuing People Now Summary Report.
Valuing People Now is a three year cross-government strategy developed to help improve the lives of people with learning disabilities. It aims to tackle the challenges that people with learning disabilities tend to face and covers all aspects of life, including health, housing, getting a paid job, personalisation, transition, advocacy, hate crime and relationships.
Key improvements outlined in the progress report include:
All 152 Learning Disability Partnership Boards submitted reports on the progress they had made over the year to March 2010.
The Progress Report also takes into account other reports produced that are relevant to people with learning disabilities - such as the Department of Health's response to the Parliamentary and Local Government Ombudsman's Report 'Six Lives'.
