Sammendrag
New ideas are needed as to how we can develop and provide housing for the disabled. This report examines the practices of six Norwegian municipalities, which in a variety of ways are looking to enable disabled residents to build or buy and own their own homes. The survey has confirmed some previous findings: the financing model operated by the Norwegian State Housing Bank (Husbanken) makes it possible and attractive for many dis-abled persons to purchase homes on the ordinary housing market. However, in spite of the fact that private developers are without exception friendly and accommodating, this appears to be a complicated and resource-demanding process. A municipality can thus enable effective pro-cesses in a number of different ways. For example, it may provide opportunities for residents to rent pending later purchase, or it may coordinate the provision of information and guidance by a number of its internal departments. It is common for disabled residents to require both a home and the provision of services. Approaches such as these can make it easier for parents to identify good solutions, and there is little doubt that this has helped to reduce adapted housing waiting times for disabled home hunters in many of Norway’s major cities. Leaving home can be a major upheaval both for young disabled people and their parents, entailing changes in the young person’s responsibilities, personal economy and sense of independence. In Trondheim, advisers find that renting prior to purchase simplifies the process and makes it more flexible. Open viewings are also experienced as positive. Buyers are not only offered a home, but also have the opportunity to see and judge for themselves where they want to live. In this way the municipality can offer a prior supportive service that helps residents to get to know each other before they move in. Municipal staff support residents’ progress as they move into their new homes by providing them with training and help to feel secure right from the start. In Stjørdal, social services teams are noticing that there is an increasing number of young people who want to live without any links to a base or communal area. Staff believe that this implies an ambulatory service team that considers both the housing situation and the need to assist residents in forming social relations. In Stjørdal, a number of dedicated meeting places have been set aside to facilitate social gatherings. At the same time, it is emphasised that there is a need for different forms of housing and that this need can change during a resident’s lifetime. The father of a disabled person in Stange municipality reports the existence of an excellent service by which the municipality assumed responsibility for the building, but the homes were then handed over to individual residents and administered by a housing co-operative. He emphasises that a highly competent and stable team of professionals played a significant role in this process. In spite of the fact that none of the parents were anthroposophist's, he made a point of emphasising the significance of the link to the anthroposophist community. He believes that they have a view of humanity and a professional community that reinforces this service. The Norwegian State Housing Bank played a key role in the development of the housing model and contributed towards a positive process. In Tromsø we have had the opportunity to interview employees during many of the developmental stages of the services. What appeared at the start to be an effective system for all those involved, later became vulnerable to problems and a need for adaptation. These findings serve to emphasise the importance of more comprehensive assessments of the views of employees, the disabled residents and their next of kin over an extended period of time. Securing the homes is an important start, but a truly effective service requires not only a home, but also a local community and a mutually supportive array of social services. The overall objective of achieving inclusivity within local communities offers a leading light during such processes. The homes are quite ordinary and are located among other similar homes, but our findings indicate that to date, residents experience little or no positive inter-action with their other neighbours. Natural meeting places and communal areas dedicated to entire neighbourhoods occur only rarely in new housing projects. The attempt by Bærum municipality to invite residents from outside the housing co-operative to socialise in the communal areas represents an exciting new initiative. This project is a work in progress. If we are to meet the objectives of inclusivity and participation, we have to expand our focus and not only look at the homes, but also at the kind of housing environments in which the residents shall be included.