The public calls for more sheltered housing
'More sheltered housing should be built', say people who have responded to ERoSH's online survey at www.leadashelteredlife.co.uk
There are over 25,000 sheltered housing schemes in the UK but an overwhelming 93.5% of people who visited the site clicked 'yes', calling for more specialist housing for older people to be built. Only 6.5% of people disagreed.
Respondents were signposted to the website as a result of ERoSH's 'I lead a sheltered life' 2007 campaign which used extensive advertising and media from July to October to increase awareness about sheltered housing amongst potential tenants and residents.
Commenting on the results, ERoSH's acting chair, Meic Phillips said, "Sheltered housing remains a popular choice of tenure and housing commissioners and providers shouldn’t forget that it’s still a viable and attractive option for many people aged 55 plus who are making positive choices to live in amongst peers, with support, independence and security. It still meets the needs of many elders as a developing and evolving service delivered flexibly to meet the changing support needs of the older generation."
The 'I lead a sheltered life' campaign is estimated to have reached 10,916,765 people and that a further 2,393,000 people heard about the campaign and its messages via radio coverage.
ERoSH will be running another poll in 2008. Watch this space!
