Accessible housing for all
It is not right that in 2018, thousands of disabled people have to live in a care home because of a lack of accessible housing. It’s not right that instead of enjoying our right to live and participate in the community, too many disabled people are living in housing that does not meet our needs. Without accessible, affordable housing, coupled with properly funded social care that respects our human rights, disabled people will not be able to enjoy our human right to independent living, or our human rights to a private and family life, and we’d find it harder to access education, employment, social and recreational activities.
Housing is at the heart of independent living. That’s why, as a disabled person, and on behalf of Scottish Labour Party, I am taking this issue out into living rooms, communities, town halls, organisations and the streets right across Scotland in a nation-wide consultation on accessible housing. The consultation is part of the Housing Commission, set up by Scottish Labours Shadow spokesperson on Housing and Equalities, Pauline McNeil MSP and Chaired by Stuart Gullivar and will be central to our housing policy for the many.
Over the next 3 months, we want to hear from you. Whether you are a disabled person, a family friend, colleague, a service provider, a house builder, a local authority or just someone who wants to be heard on this issue, we need to hear from you, because together we can change housing in Scotland for the many, not the few.
To have your say on what needs to be done to ensure disabled people can enjoy our right to a safe, affordable, accessible home, you can:
- Fill in this questionnaire
- Email your thoughts to this address
- Invite us to come to speak with you, either at an event you are hosting, or one to one
You can download the consultation document here.
We hope to hear from you soon. You can respond up until the 8 February 2019.
Thank you for taking the time to respond.
Pam Duncan-Glancy