Torbay residents are being asked to give their views on a new Housing Assistance Policy which aims to help keep more people living independently in their own homes.

The Policy has been drafted by Torbay Council and Foundations, the National Body for Disabled Facilities Grants and Home Improvement Agencies, following a recent local consultation on the Housing Strategy and feedback from local residents.

Steve Darling, Leader of Torbay Council, said: “We have updated our Housing Strategy. One of the main priorities is to ‘improve housing quality’, specifically to help ‘keep people independent at home’. As part of that offer, we have reviewed our Housing Assistance Policy to improve the range of help available to disabled, vulnerable, and older people, so that they can remain safe and independent in their homes.”

Councillor Jackie Stockman, Cabinet Member for Adults and Public Health, said: “Maintaining independence and the quality of life is one of the keys to ageing well and mitigates the increasing demand for more expensive care interventions and cost to the NHS.

“It’s really important that everyone takes the opportunity to have their say on this consultation – it only takes a few minutes to do the survey. So if you’re a resident in one of the key groups affected, a carer, a parent or guardian of a disabled child, or you work in health or social care or the housing sector this consultation will be of interest to you.”

The Housing Assistance Policy sets out how we will deliver our housing role. It aims to:

• Improve the services offered to elderly, disabled and vulnerable residents
• Speed up the processes to make sure households get help when they need it
• Extend our targeted assistance to meet identified need
• Explain the grants available for adaptations and home repairs
• Set out the criteria to qualify for help

You can find out more and have your say via the online survey here.