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CKH and PCC to increase supported housing availability in Peterborough
CKH and PCC to increase supported housing availability in Peterborough

As part of a number of joint initiatives aiming to increase the supply of housing in the city, Cross Keys Homes (CKH) and Peterborough City Council (PCC) are working together to increase the supported housing capacity for people with learning disabilities.

In addition to the homes for supported living that the housing association already provides, it is now in the process of sourcing further homes suitable for people living with a learning disability. Care and support for residents will be commissioned by PCC’s Adult Social Care team.

At present CKH provides a number of properties, some of which have been adapted to include specialist equipment, a sensory room, communal facilities and accommodation for live-in carers. Supported living enables people to live independently in the community whilst receiving the expert care and support they need.

CKH’s Chief Executive, Claire Higgins, said, “This is a fantastic example of what we can achieve when we work together to improve peoples’ lives. By providing this additional supported housing, we will be helping people to stay living in their home city, close to their family, friends and support networks. It is sadly often the case that people who need support have to move away to get it, and so to be able to increase the specialist housing available in Peterborough is great news.”

Fiona Davies, Head of Service for Learning Disabilities and Mental Health across Peterborough & Cambridgeshire, said: “We are hugely grateful to Cross Keys Homes for their commitment to work with us to increase the supply of housing for people with learning disabilities and/or autism.

“We have seen an increase in demand for properties of this type, in part due to an increase in the number of young people with a learning disability and/or autism coming to us for support and also because there is a shortage of affordable homes to rent in the city. In addition, suitable homes have to meet a certain standard to allow someone with a learning disability to live independently in the community whilst receiving the expert care and support they need.”