Dates: 1 August 2025 - 31 July 2026 Funder: NIHR
Project Description
Autistic people and people with learning disabilities experience a significantly lower quality of life, along with increased physical and mental health challenges, compared to the rest of population. While several factors contribute to this concerning disparity, a key issue is the lack of suitable and affordable housing options. Despite policy emphasis on supporting people to live independently in their own homes, the shortage of appropriate housing for autistic people and people with learning disabilities has led to rising hospital admissions, delayed discharges, and frequent readmissions due to the breakdown of housing arrangements.
Methods
The project will involve three overlapping stages starting with a series of engagement workshops followed by a rapid review of research and other literature and finally consultations with experts through interviews and focus groups. We will hold three workshops to help finalise the topics to be scoped in the second and third stages of the project. The first workshop will include people in policy or similar roles, researchers, practitioners, family members/carers, etc. The second will be held with autistic people and the third workshop will involve people with learning disabilities and their family members/carers. The second stage of the project will entail conducting a rapid review of research and other literature on community-based housing models to identify current service configurations. The review will prioritise evidence that includes the views and preferences of autistic people and people with learning disabilities. Finally, we will hold additional consultations, following the rapid review, with a range of people with expertise of various kinds. These consultations will be undertaken through interviews and focus groups with the purpose of bringing up to date the evidence gleaned from the literature review.
Methods
This project aims to synthesise existing evidence on community-based housing models for autistic people and people with learning disabilities. It will examine the range of housing options currently available, identify who is responsible for funding these services, and explore how they are staffed. Furthermore, the project will compare different housing models in terms of quality of care, support services offered, outcomes, and cost-effectiveness. The overarching goal is to provide evidence to inform policy development and improve housing options for autistic people and people with learning disabilities. To achieve this, we will identify barriers and facilitators to the development of key housing models and engage directly with autistic people, people with learning disabilities, and their families to understand their preferences and priorities around housing.
Further Project Information
Principal Investigator: Martin Knapp
CPEC Research Team: Derek King, Eva Cyhlarova, Jodie Anderson
Region: UK
Keyword: social care, learning disabilities, autism, housing