[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to increase the number of "Independent Living Support Housing" units from the current 170 to 459 by 2022 to help people with disabilities who have lived in residential facilities for the disabled settle stably in the local community after becoming independent.
On the 8th, Seoul announced that it will officially implement three types of housing projects that appropriately combine housing supply and residential life services so that people with disabilities can receive customized support according to their diverse needs and economic situations.
First, the "Supply-type Support Housing," which Seoul started as the first in the nation, provides public rental housing and residential life services simultaneously for people with disabilities. After supplying 68 units last year alone, the plan is to expand by 60 units annually to reach a total of 248 units by 2022.
In the supply-type support housing, SH Corporation provides public rental housing, and service providers offer various residential services such as housekeeping (dishwashing, recycling, etc.), financial management (banking tasks, etc.), and medication management. Eligible residents include people with disabilities who need independent living due to the closure of residential facilities for the disabled and Seoul residents aged 18 or older with developmental disabilities who require continuous residential services for independent living. Last year, 32 people with developmental disabilities moved in for the first time and are living independently.
The "Non-supply-type Support Housing" project supports only residential services at the individual's current residence. It complements the limitations of the supply-type support housing, which has restrictions on supply schedules and locations.
Since 2017, a pilot project has been conducted in two autonomous districts (Gangnam and Yangcheon) with 26 units (21 self-type, 5 trial-type). From April this year, the main project started in the southeastern and southwestern regions, providing services to 40 units (35 self-type, 5 trial-type). The plan is to expand to 80 units in three regions including the northeastern region by 2021, and to a total of 120 units across all four regions of Seoul by 2022.
Among the non-supply-type support housing, the "Trial-type" provides public housing and residential services together on a short-term basis (3 months to 1 year) based on community independence. Securing private housing and moving out after the residence period is mandatory, and all living expenses must be borne by the individual.
Residential services include overall housing and life management services, provided continuously or intermittently according to individual needs, including housing counseling, daily life management, medical support, and psychological and emotional support.
The "Independent Living Housing," a transitional housing type where people with disabilities can experience independent living before settling in the community, started with 3 units (6 residents) in 2009 and currently houses 128 people in 76 units. Seoul plans to add 5 units this year and expand to a total of 91 units by 2022.
Independent Living Housing allows people with disabilities who are afraid of complete independence after leaving facilities to live for up to 4 years, experience independent living, and gain social adaptation and experience.
Kang Byung-ho, Director of Welfare Policy at Seoul City, said, "To steadily promote the deinstitutionalization policy, which is a core goal of enhancing the human rights of people with disabilities, it is important to alleviate their fears about independence in the community." He added, "We will continue to expand and support supply-type and non-supply-type support housing and independent living housing so that the dream of independence for people with disabilities leaving facilities can become a reality."
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