Supporting Learning Disability Week: The Importance of Inclusive Housing

This Learning Disability Week (16–20 June 2025), we proudly stand alongside individuals with a learning disability to raise awareness and champion greater inclusion. With this year’s theme focused on “Do you see me?”, we are reminded how vital it is to ensure people with a learning disability are seen, heard and supported, especially when it comes to housing.

Accessible, secure, and person-centred housing is essential for enabling independent, fulfilled lives. As a network of professionals across housing, health and social care, we recognise the urgent need to design and deliver homes that meet diverse needs and promote inclusion in our communities.

We support Mencap’s call for visibility and respect and remain committed to sharing best practice, influencing policy, and creating partnerships that prioritise the voices and rights of people with a learning disability.

That’s why we are pleased to draw your attention to these dedicated Housing LIN webpages, kindly sponsored by Golden Lane Housing, which support professionals in housing, health and social care to improve independent living options for people with learning disabilities and autism. It brings together guidance, case studies, funding information and policy insights covering areas such as housing design, assistive technology, trauma-informed environments and the Transforming Care agenda. Resources also include personal stories, legal frameworks and toolkits for commissioning and planning, helping to shape inclusive housing solutions that promote choice, independence, and community inclusion.

Resources of interest:

• HAPPI Hour - Designing Housing for People with a Learning Disability and Autistic People
  In a webinar held last year, Arcadis presented plans for a landscape-led development of 16 houses and a clubhouse designed for people with learning disabilities and autism who need care while living independently. NHS England shared how it works with local partners to improve housing supply and quality, alongside insights from local commissioners and examples of new schemes expanding housing options.
   
• Finding a safe home after hospital: Case study research on supported housing and health partnerships
  This National Housing Federation (NHF) report draws on NHS data shows that NHS patients, ready to be discharged, spent over 109,000 hours stick in mental health hospitals last year, impacting their health outcomes and preventing new admissions, due to a severe shortage of supported housing.
   
• Best practice and insights report on improving housing choice for people with a learning disability
  This report explores how people with a learning disability can live in mainstream housing, as distinct from supported accommodation such as supported living, Shared Lives, or care homes.