€1m to help people with disabilities live independently

The Government has established a €1m fund to lease homes to people with an intellectual disability to help them live independent lives in a community setting.

The money will be spent in four pilot areas — Dublin, Limerick, Louth, and Cork — as part of a strategy to deliver housing options to people with an intellectual disability.

They will also have a greater say in where and how they are housed as part of a new housing strategy to be announced today.

Cope Foundation will unveil details of its five-year Opening Doors plan at a national conference today on the housing needs of people with intellectual disability, organised by Cork’s Lord Mayor, John Buttimer.

Mr Buttimer, a clinical psychologist working in the area of intellectual disability, said it was important that Cork hosts the conference because it has some of the highest numbers of people with an intellectual disability living in congregated community settings.

The conference will be addressed by Housing Minister Jan O’Sullivan, Disability Minister Kathleen Lynch, Environment Minister Phil Hogan, and Health Minister James Reilly.

“I hope that momentum will build from this conference and will enable more people with disability to live integrated and inclusive lives in their local communities,” Mr Buttimer said.

Meanwhile, Cope’s new housing strategy sets out a vision for how people with intellectual disability can be supported to live in a home of their choosing with the supports they need, as part of their community.

Sean Abbott, Cope Foundation’s head of client services, said there is “fresh thinking and new approaches” to homes and housing for the people it supports.