CIH Welcomes Lifetime Homes Strategy
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) welcomed the Government’s launch today of Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods and applauded the strategy for its broad scope and its emphasis on housing in an ageing society across all tenures. *ENDS* (Issued on behalf of the CIH by Notes to Editors: The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) is the professional body for people involved in housing and communities. We are a registered charity and not-for-profit organisation. We have a diverse and growing membership of over 20,000 – both in the public and private sectors – living and working in over 20 countries on five continents across the world. Our members work for local authorities, housing associations, Arms Length Management Organisations, Government bodies, educational establishments and the private sector. Many tenants and residents are also members. We exist to maximise the contribution that housing professionals make to the wellbeing of communities. Further information is available at: www.cih.org
CIH is pleased that Government is prioritising action to address what could be a demographic time-bomb. As this strategy shows, there are many older people whose quality of life, personal health and life expectancy could be improved by improving their housing and care, and many more face an uncertain future living in homes that are unsafe for them, that are dangerously cold or that they cannot afford to maintain.
Sarah Webb, CIH Chief Executive, said: “Providing decent housing and care for older people isn’t a matter of choice, it’s a moral and economic necessity. We need to ensure that our homes and communities are built and maintained with an increasingly active ageing population in mind. If we get this right, not only will we be providing housing that lives up to older people’s expectations, but we will also be able to make significant progress is preventing home related injuries and illness and save money by reducing demand on health services.”
She continued: “But CIH is clear – we can’t get into a situation where we have to choose between eco-homes and lifetime homes – they are both equally crucial – and we are delighted to see that this strategy recognises this explicitly through its commitment to making all eco-towns lifetime neighbourhoods.”
CIH looks forward to working with Government and its agencies to help ensure that housing plays its part in providing homes fit for our ageing population.
