Housing brochure to help disable people
Five houses and two apartments have already been provided under social housing incentives for people with intellectual disability in Clare and Limerick.
The new housing brochure was put together by the Brothers of Charity Services in Co Clare.
Eamonn Finn who compiled and designed the brochure with Kevin Delaney said: “The brochure has been brought out to inform people of the opportunities that are there through social housing under the capital funding scheme run by the Department of the Environment.”
Housing has, he said, always been a major issue for people with intellectual disability.
“For years people with intellectual disability lived in institutions or in other large settings. They had no choice about where they lived or who lived with them. But now through social housing and the funding that is available, people can be given a say in where they live and who they want to live with. They are treated as persons with the respect and dignity they deserve. They can now live in a place they can call their own,” said Mr Finn.
The Brothers of Charity have set up two housing associations in Limerick and Clare which are limited companies.
“These companies work with the local authorities to purchase houses for intellectually disabled people under the social housing scheme. There is almost 100% funding,” Mr Finn said.
He said it was now possible for their housing associations to purchase sites, design houses and have them built.
The new booklet called ‘Choice’ was launched by Brendan Ingoldsby, principal officer in the Department of Health and Children.
Joseph Doherty spoke to the 360 delegates of a different, darker time in this country. He lived in institutions for most of his life having been sent to Letterfrack as a child.
Mr Doherty, now aged 61, said 1975 was the best year of his life when he was able to come back and live in the community and gained “more freedom and more choices.”
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