Demonstrating the social value of wheelchair user homes | Latest news

LSE Housing and Communities, a research group based at the London School of Economics, has been asked by Habinteg Housing Association to undertake research into the social value of wheelchair user homes.

Request for Participants

We are looking to interview people both living in a wheelchair user home, or living in a property that is not suitable for your needs. You can own your home or rent socially or privately. Interviews will take place online or by telephone and will take around 30 minutes.

We want to talk to wheelchair users, or households that include a wheelchair user, about what a wheelchair user home means to you and your family. How has living in a wheelchair user home changed things for you and your family? Has living in a wheelchair user home brought any new opportunities?

If you would like to take part in this study, please contact Jessica Horne Rowan on J.Rowan1@lse.ac.uk .

Background

There are currently no national guidelines for the creation of new, wheelchair user homes, even though it is estimated that up to 400,000 wheelchair users live in unsuitable accommodation in the UK, and 20,000 people are on local authority waiting lists for a wheelchair user home.

This research project will use a cost-benefit analysis and qualitative evidence to demonstrate the economic and social value of wheelchair user homes to society. It is hoped that this evidence will provide greater support from local government, industry, and the housing sector to develop new wheelchair user homes.

We know both anecdotally and from previous research that the shortage of accessible homes has serious impacts on disabled people, who may risk injury, loss of independence, or face huge costs from having to adapt their existing home or move into specialist accommodation.

We also know that living in an accessible home can have hugely positive impacts on a wheelchair user’s health, wellbeing, independence, and general lifestyle. We aim to show both the economic value and the social value of building more wheelchair user homes.

We will do that through a cost-benefit analysis, and also by documenting the experiences of people who use a wheelchair about the impact of living in a suitable or unsuitable home. The research will be presented to local and national government, and we hope that it will lead to greater support from government, industry, and the housing sector for the development of new wheelchair user homes.

The LSE Housing and Communities Research Team

Laura Lane is a Policy Officer at the London School of Economics. She has over 15 years’ research experience and is highly experienced in qualitative research methods. She has previously worked on research into debt, homelessness, and neighbourhood housing management.

Bert Provan is a Senior Policy Fellow at the London School of Economics. Bert is expert in both quantitative and qualitative research and will be leading on the cost benefit analysis work. Bert has previously worked with Habinteg on a project highlighting the ‘hidden housing market’ for people with disabilities.

Ellie Benton is a Research Assistant at the London School of Economics. She has worked at the LSE for six years and has lots of experience in working with communities to share their experiences. Her recent projects have included work on mutual aid, the cost-of-living crisis, and community-led housing.

Jessica Horne Rowan is project coordinator for LSE Housing and Communities. She manages the organisational and administrative aspects of research and acts as a first point of contact for the wider research team.

Professor Anne Power is the Head of LSE Housing and Communities. She is also an Emeritus Professor of Social Policy at the London School of Economics. Anne has worked on housing and community issues for many years, and is expert on housing management, neighbourhood renewal, city recovery, and environmental upgrading of homes.

The LSE Housing and Communities Research Team

Find out more about LSE Housing and Communities and their research.