Which Way Home? 23 specialised services and did not have to rely so precluded from taking up these options as they much on mainstream provision where cutbacks in do not reside in the ‘host’ area. In contrast, for budgets have taken a toll on services. In contrast, service users who wish to remain in localities they a couple of respondents in different Simon have always known – especially older people with Communities noted that whilst the language of personal care needs – mobile support options are policy is around reconfiguring services towards a not only very limited, but also shrinking. A housing-led approach, that in rural areas you number of staff reflected on the differences cannot reconfigure what doesn’t exist in the first between brokering access to support services in place. For example, Murtagh & Partners (2011) urban compared with rural areas, have drawn attention to the relatively low level of Midlands compared with other areas. A key “ Wpportsssrtomnhedsoanmuhetn.trt candbawotod ifehgerotyIyintdmceetehfessaeusehtnisecivresssensselemohrofgnidnufyrotutat s aspect of working in rural areas was the greater you are in an area with supports around you – reliance on other providers in rural areas to it works a treat. But in more rural areas it can supply the required level of supports that service be tricky (staff). users may choose to take up. Perhaps making a virtue of necessity it could be Conclusion said that in some ways rural areas readily lend themselves to the housing-led approach simply As Simon Communities transition towards because of the dearth of traditional transitional housing-led approaches there was a concern accommodation options that historically have about reconfiguring case-loads to reflect the been available. However, again, this presupposes intensity of support required. This perspective an adequate supply of accommodation that included a consideration of the models of support agencies can use. available out in the community, especially to address the isolation that many service users One very practical issue is how people in smaller experience. Such a reconfiguration would clearly communities can access support options if these have resource implications in terms of staffing, are provided some distance away. Respondents unless it is accepted that fewer people will be also commented on the reconfiguration of helped. services towards centralised provision - especially mental health services – that meant service users A particular concern related to ensuring that the had to make their own arrangements to travel high levels of support to service users were great distances. universally recognised by all relevant agencies, not just in the short-term as service users move However, the problem of accessing services into their new homes, but also potentially in the some distance away from the home was not long term, with the need for a commitment by exclusive to rural areas and was also noted in agencies to the principle of open ended support. Dublin. It was noted that the stock of better There was also discussion of the requirement for quality private rented accommodation tended to a tailored approach to housing-led services be out in the suburbs rather than the city centre. operating in rural areas. Whilst it was possible to source better homes, people were more likely to be isolated, with poor transport links to services or existing social networks. In this regard, the requirement for a local connection by local authorities works against the potential outcomes that a housing-led approach could deliver. For example, people in rural areas who wanted to move to other counties in order to access accommodation with supports were often
Which Way Home?
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