Accessible housing: district calls on landlords to come forward
For older or impaired people, the search for suitable housing is often difficult. For this reason, the district is working on an overview of barrier-free living space as part of the Hessian funding project Model Region Barrier-free Living in the Waldeck-Frankenberg District. The publication of a cadastre is planned. Landlords who have barrier-free living space are asked to contact the district.
"Living space is barrier-free if it can be occupied by all people - regardless of whether they suffer from a physical or mental impairment or not," explains Alexandra Köck, who has been responsible for accessibility, participation and inclusion in the Social Affairs Department since March. Among other things, the location of the living space, the size of the living space and the number of usable rooms play a role.
Furthermore, the buildings in which the living space is located should be designed without steps or thresholds and the floor coverings should be easy to roll on and slip-resistant. Windows, doors, light switches or sockets should be barrier-free and universally usable in terms of accessibility, height or effort. Doors should be at least 80 centimetres wide; corridors and rooms should also be usable with wheelchairs, walking aids or rollators. The sanitary facilities should also be level with the floor and offer sufficient space for movement. If there are several floors, a lift or hoist is usually indispensable.
Landlords and owners in Waldeck-Frankenberg who own or can offer appropriate living space are asked to contact the district. In this context, it is important to note that not all criteria necessarily have to be met. Since there are different types of impairments, not all of the mentioned requirements have to be implemented without exception. "We will first collect the incoming offers and then, if necessary, filter them again into different categories," Alexandra Köck further emphasises. However, it is important to draw attention to the issue and to sensitise society to it. Landlords are welcome to contact Alexandra Köck (e-mail: alexandra.koeck@lkwafkb.de, tel. 05631 - 954 625), who will not only record the demand but will also provide advice.