Between 2018 and 2023, a project on physical adaptation of housing for people with disabilities will be implemented in Estonia. This will allow local authorities (LAs) to apply for support for adapting housing for people with disabilities living in their area. Adaptation is defined as construction or repair work in a dwelling that improves the person's livelihood or reduces the care burden on the carer.
Project objective and results: The aim of the project is to ensure better living, learning and working conditions for people with disabilities. The aim is to adapt the accommodation of at least 1955 people with special needs to their specific needs, improve their independence and reduce the burden of care.
The following activities are considered as adaptation:
- works to improve mobility-related operations (including adaptations to the entrance to the dwelling, to the walkway between the external door of the building and the dwelling, to the entrance to the building and its grounds, or to a fence);
- works to improve hygiene operations;
- work to improve kitchen operations.
Programme: Developing welfare infrastructure, adapting the environment to the needs of people with disabilities.
Fond: European Regional Development Fund.
Duration of the project: 26.02.2018 - 31.08.2023.a.
Project schedule and budget: The first round of the project was carried out in 2018, during which a ramp was built in a single-family house in Valga municipality with the help of the above-mentioned grant and the laundry room and kitchen in the apartment building were adapted for wheelchair users.
The second call for applications was open from 21.02.2019 to 26.08.2019. In this round, 57 applications for adaptation were submitted by the residents of Valga municipality. Considering the size of the grant allocated to the municipality for this round (€160 556) and the estimated cost of the average adaptation (around €5700), 33 dwellings can be converted. A grant application has been submitted by the municipality to the State Support Services Centre, which is leading the project, and a funding decision should be available in mid-October. Applications submitted earlier in time were included in the application. Of the 33 applicants, 31 want to build or rebuild a washroom, 6 want to build a ramp and the same number want to rebuild a toilet, 17 want to adapt doors (widening the doorway, removing the threshold, etc.).
Once the funding decision has been received, the applicants will be informed whether their dwelling will be renovated with the funds of the current second call for proposals (2019-2021) or whether they will have to wait for the next, third, call for proposals (2020-2022).
We look forward to the opening of the third call for applications and will announce it on the website soon.
Information about the project has been disseminated to the population through the website of the municipality, the Valga Teataja newspaper, RUUT radio and information days organised at the Chamber of Disabled People.
Staff involved in the field: Jüri Kõre, Head of the Social Work Service, 5340 2123, Jyri.kore@valga.ee, Cabinet 309
