Britain is in the midst of a housing crisis - but it isn't just because rents are sky-rocketing past affordability, and home ownership remains a distant dream for many. It's also because the housing stock we have just isn't suitable for the needs of the future.
Many individuals with disabilities need either specialised housing or adaptations in order to live safely in their home - I am one of them - and levels of disability in this country are rising exponentially.
The most obvious reason for the increase is the number of older people. There's a significant correlation between age and disability, with one in two over the state pension age currently meeting the 'disabled' definition. The number of people aged over 65 is set to double over the next 17 years. But this is also affecting younger people, and families, too.
A number of years ago my mobility declined to the extent that I was unable to get up the steep stairs to my bedroom. I was lucky enough that the bathroom was downstairs, but sleeping on a sofa whilst waiting for a suitable property to become available isn't easy when you have chronic pain. I needed a bungalow with level access, but there were so few in my area I couldn't get a look-in. I became so anxious, worried I'd never find somewhere to move, and my condition worsened both from stress and due to where I was sleeping. The relief when I finally managed to secure a privately rented bungalow was immense, but I still live in fear that my landlord may sell up and I will be back in the same position.
Others have it much tougher, and some of the stories I've been told are heartbreaking. I know one lady who had a stroke and was left needing a wheelchair. Her property had steps throughout and the doorways were too narrow for her chair. She thought the council would re-house her urgently. She given a high priority due to medical reasons, but wheelchair accessible properties were extremely rare. The only place she could wash was her kitchen, where she felt uncomfortable and exposed, and she had to be carried to the toilet. Her armchair became her bed. Her home became her prison. It took two years for her to be re-housed, and the situation took a huge toll on both her physical and mental health.
Housing is already a significant problem for disabled people. We're twice as likely to be social housing tenants, because the private market doesn't accommodate us - landlords simply refuse to spend money on adapting properties. Currently only 5% of our housing stock qualifies as disabled friendly, which means lots of families are living in inadequate properties. 72% of people with mobility problems state that they do not have an accessible door into their building. 52% don't have doors and halls wide enough for a wheelchair. 50% cannot have a stair-lift as their stairs aren't wide enough.
Everyone should have the right to wash and dress in privacy, and enter and exit their home when they choose to. Imagine if you or one of your children had an accident tomorrow, or became very ill. Would your home be suitable? Would you be able to get through the front door in a wheelchair? Would you have an alternative to a bath if you couldn't climb in? When choosing a property, rarely would a healthy person ask 'what if?'
Things need to change fast. Leonard Cheshire are calling for at least 10% of all new developments to be wheelchair accessible, and say councils should ensure that accessible homes are a priority when giving permission for new housing developments. Disabled people have families, too (shock horror), so these homes need to include bungalows and level-access properties with three and four bedrooms. I think there are also simple things that could be done, too, like online estate agents listing key accessibility features, and making them searchable.
This problem won't go away, and it can't be ignored. This isn't just an issue that impacts disabled people today, but all those set to become disabled in the future - which may include you, or your children. As a country we need to do more before this becomes an unsolvable crisis.