Home improvement groups urged to co-operate
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Specialist agencies that maintain and adapt homes for vulnerable people need to develop to meet the needs of an ageing population, a study has found.
Home Improvement Agencies will need to work more closely with other services, such as housing, health, and social care, and continue to be directed by service users.
HIAs are government-backed local organisations that carry out repairs and modifications to the homes of their clients. HIA umbrella group Foundations produced the study for Communities and Local Government.
It calls for a ‘hub’ around which vulnerable people can access information and advice and make choices about their homes, and for the expansion of handy person services which help elderly people in their own homes with day-to-day tasks.
Foundations director Tony Molloy, said: ’The type of support that people need varies. Some may only need the name of a reliable local builder, others may need help applying for benefits, or with a major adaptation to their home. HIAs need to work with other local services and be open to all enquiries.’
The government has promised to continue to support HIAs, and to invest £33 million in the handy person scheme.
Four out of every five of the 270 HIAs in England already run handy person schemes.
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