Inclusion London’s day of action for accessible housing: A recap | Policy blog

Inclusion London’s Policy and Stakeholder Engagement Manager, Laura Vicinanza and Policy and Campaigns Officer, Mariella Hill, look back on what was a powerful day of action in central London, at the end of July, that united the disability community on the vital issue of accessible housing for disabled people.

On Monday 29th July 2024, Inclusion London , supported by many Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations (DDPOs) and other organisations within the housing sector, held a demonstration in Westminster urging the new Labour Government to make accessible housing a priority.

The date of the protest marked two years since the previous Government had committed to raising the accessibility standards of new build housing but did not follow through with their commitment.

The previous Government also rejected introducing national targets for wheelchair accessible housing despite the need for such housing. Not only are there over 400,000 wheelchair users in this country living in unsuitable homes, but they are also expected to wait on average 47 years for a new build accessible social rent home . 

Resounding call to action

About 70 energised individuals, and Habinteg’s Director of External Affairs and Social Impact, joined us in central London, gathering first in Parliament Square, and then marching towards Downing Street to hand in a letter to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer.

The demonstration was a resounding call to action: we demanded that the new Government raises the minimum accessibility standards for new build homes across the UK and introduces a national 10% target for wheelchair accessible homes and build more social rent accessible housing.

We heard an impressive range of speeches from deaf and disabled individuals and organisations, including Inclusion London, Pathfinders Neuromuscular Alliance , Stay Safe East , disability campaigners Osayuki Igbinoba, Sophia Kleanthous and Anis Akhtar, and the newly elected Labour MP for Chelsea & Fulham, Ben Coleman .

Speakers drew on their lived and professional experiences, as well as years of disability activism, to articulate the struggles of hundreds of thousands of Deaf and Disabled people in England living in homes that are unsafe, inaccessible and unaffordable.

After the speeches, the group marched towards Downing Street, where five individuals handed over a letter signed by over 40 DDPOs and various housing organisations such as Advice for Renters , ACORN , Defend Council Housing , Greater Manchester Tenants Union , Medact , New Economics Foundation , London Fire Brigade Community, and Centre for Ageing Better .

Why accessible housing matters

As Osayuki Igbinoba said: “There is a shortage of accessible homes which needs to be addressed. Disabled people should be able to live in homes that are suitable for them”. 

Housing is the cornerstone of independent living. Yet, disabled people are still being denied our right to live independently because there are not enough accessible homes to live in.

Accessible homes enable us to live full, independent lives. Investing in accessible housing means massively improving our physical and mental health. It also means putting less pressures on the social care system and NHS resources.

We want accessible homes now

Why are we demanding accessible homes? Disabled people need accessible social rent housing because it is the most affordable and secure form of tenure. Many of us cannot afford to rent privately or buy our own homes.

We have heard lots of ambitious words from the previous Government about the need to improve the housing conditions of disabled people in England, but words mean nothing if they do not turn into action. We are tired of empty promises. We are tired of being ignored.

Poverty rates among disabled people are shockingly high because of successive government policy failures and years of austerity.

Therefore, we are now calling on the new Labour Government to champion accessible housing. Our ask is simple: build the homes deaf and disabled people desperately need, accessible social rent homes.

We look forward to working with the new Government to deliver housing change for all disabled people.

What next?

Inclusion London’s Chair and Sam Cornelius-Light from Pathfinders Neuromuscular Alliancespoke recently on Access All about the Day of Action , which included a Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson.

That spokesperson said: “Housing is one of the Government’s top priorities; everyone deserves to live in a decent accessible home they feel safe in. We will set out policies on accessible housing in due course.”

Inclusion London and the activists we are working with are closely monitoring this response from the Government. The building of more accessible housing in this country is long overdue, and we will campaign and work with the Government to ensure it is not forgotten.