Housing for autistic adults and adults with a learning disability: what support is needed and how to tackle the housing shortfall

What is the problem?

A significant proportion of autistic adults and adults with a learning disability continue to face challenges in accessing good-quality housing. 

The Housing Learning and Improvement Network estimates a shortfall of between 27,000 to 34,500 units of supported housing for autistic people and people with a learning disability by 2037.

What is housing for autistic adults and adults with a learning disability?

Where people live should be their choice, and this principle applies equally to autistic adults and adults with a learning disability.

It is essential to understand people’s daily lives, goals and preferences, as well as any support needs they may have.

In relation to the provision of housing and care and support, there are differences in the funding available and in the housing options likely to be most suitable.

Different housing solutions for different groups

The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) defines people’s needs into three groups – ‘high needs’, ‘high or moderate needs’, or ‘moderate or low needs’ – in its toolkit for place-based strategies for housing autistic adults. 

People with high needs might be hospital in-patients or at risk of hospital admission, in which case NHS funding, such as Continuing Healthcare, may be available.

People with high or moderate needs have care and support needs that are eligible for support under the Care Act 2014, so the local authority may provide this unless the person is a self-funder.

People with low needs do not have care and support needs that meet the criteria for local authority support under the Care Act. While most autistic adults and adults with a learning disability are in this group, they may still benefit from housing options that are difficult to find in the general housing market.

Housing options need to recognise the diversity of needs, as there is no ‘one size fits all’ type of home for autistic adults and adults with a learning disability.

Housing options for autistic adults and adults with a learning disability

These are the main models of housing with support for autistic adults and adults with a learning disability, based on those outlined by the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services in their housing pipeline resource (many of these features will vary or overlap):

• General housing: Most autistic adults and adults with a learning disability live in general housing, often with family. These may have adaptations or be accessible, and occupants may need additional support.
• Specialist bespoke supported accommodation: Built to higher accessibility standards; generally single occupancy bungalows or clustered flats with staff facilities on-site and 24-hour care.
• Bespoke single occupancy property: Usually a one-bedroom property with space for carers, tailored with sound-proofing and other features. Located to meet specific needs. Offers 24/7 on-site care.
• Purpose-built supported accommodation – clustered flats: Robust and accessible single flats with shared communal areas. Offers 24/7 on-site background support.
• Purpose-built supported accommodation – hub and spokes: The ‘hub’ is usually long-term accommodation that provides on-site background support. Spokes are separate one-bedroom or small shared units for people with lower support needs, receiving support from the hub.
• Designated general needs housing with support – clustered flats: Support may be limited to background assistance or include one-to-one care depending on individual needs.
• Community living networks in dispersed housing: Support is provided by both paid staff and volunteers across dispersed housing. These homes are allocated through standard processes and may include shared ownership units.
• Extra care housing – generic: Purpose-built and accessible. While mostly for older adults, it also supports younger people with disabilities who have lower care needs. Everyone gets 24-hour background support, with extra care based on individual assessments. Homes can be rented, shared ownership, or leasehold.
• Extra care housing – older people (or integrated retirement communities): Purpose-built and accessible, mainly for older adults aged 55 and over but also for people with a learning disability who need low-level support.
• Shared lives: Offers people who need care the chance to live independently in the community. They are matched with approved carers who share their home and daily life. Support can include full-time living, regular day visits, or overnight stays.

How can a local housing strategy help?

When it comes to housing autistic adults and adults with a learning disability, it is up to local authorities to ensure that the right number and type of homes are made available to meet current and future demand.

Local housing strategies should aim to promote people’s independence and prevent the need for more complex interventions.

Developing a local housing strategy in partnership with autistic people, people with a learning disability and their families and carers –  known as co-production – is the best way to find solutions that meet the current and future needs of local people. 

Using the SCIE’s 10-step toolkit to support your local housing strategy

Some of the key challenges faced by local teams putting together a housing strategy are related to the complexity and length of the work, which can make it hard to manage the process and keep everyone engaged.

The SCIE has developed an evidence-based, accessible 10-step toolkit to support local areas to develop their housing strategy.

The toolkit is designed to include all groups and people who should be involved in the development and delivery of the strategy. 

It is broken down into manageable parts, which helps to create awareness of everyone’s role in the process, enable frontline delivery of the strategy and increase buy-in from local partners.

Each step will prompt local teams – including housing officers – to gather the evidence needed to answer key questions on developing a housing strategy for autistic adults and adults with a learning disability.

The 10 steps will help you to:

• Understand the demand and availability of housing now and in the future (steps 1 and 2)
• Understand how the local housing market works and identify people’s needs and preferences (steps 3 and 4)
• Make clear how commissioning of housing works, identify good examples of housing, and understand costs and benefits (steps 5, 6, and 7)
• Engage with key stakeholders, identify funding options, and understand wider benefits to the community and health and social care systems (steps 8, 9, and 10)

Find out more about the SCIE’s toolkit by accessing the full version here.

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