Investment in independent living homes

Environment Minister Alan Kelly has directed all local authorities to invite approved housing bodies to develop and submit cost effective and sustainable proposals to provide independent living accommodation for people with special housing needs under the Capital Assistance Scheme.

Local Authorities will issue a “call for proposals” to invite construction and/or acquisition proposals from aproved bodies to meet this important need.

Minister Kelly said, “The Capital Assistance Scheme is my department’s main capital funding scheme for the provision of independent living accommodation for the more vulnerable in our society. I have earmarked €71 million for this scheme in 2015 and I am delighted that with this funding, the Government is enabling additional social housing accommodation to be delivered throughout the country to meet these specific and important needs”.

This new “call for proposals” is being made in the context of the Social Housing Strategy 2020, which targets the provision of 35,000 new social housing units over a six year period and the support of up to 75,000 households through an enhanced private rental sector and the reform of social housing supports.