WATCH: National News Coverage for Care & Repair’s Safety Net Grant Ask 

Following the publication of our ‘State of Older People’s Housing in Wales’ report in January 2023, Care & Repair has continued to raise awareness of the thousands of older people across Wales living in unfit housing.  

Last week, BBC Wales Today recognised our work, using their nightly national news programme to report our ask for Welsh Government to introduce a housing repair safety net grant for older people who have run out of options when it comes to improving the condition of their home.

BBC Wales reporter Sion Pennar spoke to Care & Repair client Tony, from near Llandudno, who has been waiting for operations on his knees.

“It’s not just one knee, both knees are bad… until then I have to cope with both of them, so I certainly needed adjustments making in house. Because what was once a safe place that I took for granted has become potentially a very dangerous place.”

Whilst we can often help people like Tony, who has received handrail and banister installations from Care & Repair, we are seeing increasing numbers of older people living in unfit housing who we cannot help.

Older people on low incomes frequently cannot fund repairs, and since the pandemic, urgent unresolved issues are on the rise.

Chris Jones, Care & Repair Chief Executive, told the programme “there is a big funding and policy gap for people who need help with tackling serious disrepair in their properties, so we are calling on Welsh Government to introduce a safety net grant to help those low income older people who have nowhere else to turn.”

“If we prevent accidents and illnesses due to poor housing, then that will save the NHS around £100 million pounds in treatment costs alone every year.”

Care & Repair do not accept that any older person should:

• Live in a house that is unsuitable for their needs
• Die in the winter months because they live in a cold home
• Live in a house that is hazardous
• Be without or wait too long for necessary adaptations

We will continue to work towards ensuring that all older people in Wales live in a warm, safe and accessible home by calling on the Welsh Government to introduce a safety net grant for urgent repairs.

You can watch the full BBC report here.

Or listen to our BBC radio interviews below or by clicking here for English and here for Welsh.

WELSH RADIO INTERVIEW:

ENGLISH RADIO INTERVIEW: