EHRC hits out at ‘hidden crisis’ in housing for disabled people

Thousands of disabled people in Scotland are being robbed of their dignity and independence due to the nation’s chronic shortage of accessible housing, the Equality and Human Rights Commission has warned.

Failings by the Scottish Government and local councils have created a “hidden crisis” which is set to worsen, the EHRC said in a new report. Many disabled people are unable to leave their homes or are forced to live in a single room due to lack of suitable housing and long waiting lists for adaptations, it concludes. The report found that:

• disabled people are too often demoralised and frustrated by the housing system
• there is a significant shortage of accessible homes
• installing home adaptations involves unacceptable bureaucracy and delay
• disabled people are not getting the support that they need to live independently

You can read the report here.