ALONE welcomes announcement of €15 million funding for Housing with Support Demonstrator Project
PRESS RELEASE
Charity also welcomes increase in funding for the Housing Adaptation Grant
Dublin, 4th May 2018: ALONE, the charity that supports older people to age at home, has welcomed Minister Damien English’s announcement of €15 million funding for the Housing with Support Demonstrator Project today. The project is being developed by ALONE and Circle VHA with support from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Department of Health, Dublin City Council and the HSE.
The Minister’s comments came at today’s launch of the Evaluation of Phase One of the Demonstrator Project under the Rebuilding Ireland programme in the Mansion House, Dublin, in the presence of the Lord Mayor.
It is planned that Circle will build 52 units of age-friendly homes in Inchicore, Dublin 8, and ALONE will provide support to the tenants and older people in the surrounding area. It is hoped that the Housing with Support Model will be replicated by agencies all over the country.
Seán Moynihan, CEO of ALONE, said “ALONE is proud to be working on this groundbreaking Demonstrator Project to introduce the Housing with Support Model to Ireland. There is an urgent need to develop and provide practical housing choices for older people living in Ireland who may have support requirements, and whose needs may change as they age. The Housing with Support Model, to be built in Inchicore, will provide 52 age-friendly homes for older people requiring various levels of support.”
Moynihan added, “We are looking forward to developing the Housing with Support Model and are delighted that in the coming years, ALONE and Circle VHA will be working together to offer a new choice of housing which is replicable, scalable, and most of all, desirable, for older people in Ireland.”
ALONE also welcomed the 11% increase in funding for the Housing Adaptation Grant which was announced by the Minister at the meeting.
“We welcome the fact that this is a double digit increase in funding. From our work on the ground, we know that the demand for Housing Adaptation Grants is high and the system is complex. We will work with the Minister and Department of Housing over the coming years to bring this to a demand-led model, one which is accessible and straightforward,” Moynihan said.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Micheál Mac Donncha, also supported the important progress made with the Housing with Support Model. Recognising the growing issue surrounding housing for older people in Ireland, the Lord Mayor cited that a doubling of those aged over-65, and quadrupling of those over 80 is expecting by 2045.
“I believe this project will act as a model that other housing providers can replicate. I look forward to seeing the results of this unique and positive development, which I believe will set a new standard for the future of housing provision for older persons in Ireland,” he said.
For those who have concerns about their own wellbeing, or the wellbeing of a vulnerable older person in the community, ALONE can be contacted on (01) 679 1032 or at www.alone.ie. The charity, which depends on donations from the public, has staff and volunteers ready to act on calls and requests for assistance.
ENDS
About ALONE
Established in 1977, ALONE supports older people to age at home. ALONE works with those who have issues with loneliness and social isolation, lack of services, poor health, poverty, homelessness or housing. ALONE provides Support Coordination, Housing with Support, Befriending and Campaigning services to over 1,000 older people nationwide every week. ALONE’s services are quality approved and are delivered 365 days a year.
For more information contact:
Lauren Freir, Limelight Communications, lauren.freir@limelight.ie, 01 668 0600, 087 238 0853
Kathryn Byrne, Limelight Communications, kathryn.byrne@limelight.ie , 01 668 0600