Targeting the Resources of Housing Adaptations for People with Disabilities

Abstract

Community care legislation states that resources are to be targeted to those in greatest need. In line with this, the housing adaptations budget for one local authority in the north-east of England was divided up and allocated according to need instead of, as previously, on a first come, first served basis. This study looked at the timescales involved in receiving housing adaptations and the adaptations that were being carried out under one system and compared it with the more recent system, in order to determine if people in greatest need were being targeted more effectively under the new system and how quickly this was being done. The results showed an improvement in the targeting of the adaptations but an overall increase in the time taken to deliver them.