Co-operative Housing Ireland and Cheeverstown, a voluntary, Health Service Executive (HSE)-funded organisation in Dublin that supports children and adults with intellectual disabilities, has marked the delivery of four accessible new homes at Hillfort in Kill, Co. Kildare.

The homes were delivered in partnership between Co-operative Housing Ireland, Cheeverstown, Kildare County Council, South Dublin County Council, the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage, the HSE and Lagan Homes.

To mark the occasion an event was held, which saw project partners from Cheeverstown and Co-operative Housing Ireland staff come together with Member Tenants and their family members in celebration of the new homes and the positive impact the homes have already had on the Member Tenants, their families and those that support them.

Co-operative Housing Ireland was represented on the day by Eoin Carroll, Director of Corporate Services, who said:

“We’re celebrating what can be achieved in partnership. Going it alone for Cheeverstown in providing these homes was a difficult ask for an organisation focused on providing the best possible care to their clients. Co-operative Housing Ireland were delighted to come on board, and with the support of Kildare County Council and the Department of Housing, we were able to make this happen.”

Hillfort is located a short distance from Kill Village and is very much integrated into the local community. The homes support Cheeverstown’s commitment to community-based supported living, enabling people with intellectual disabilities to live in their own homes with access to the support they need.

Each of the four bungalows have been designed with accessibility and long-term sustainability in mind. The inclusion of Air to Water heat pumps ensures better value for money, which is so important within the current context of spikes in energy costs, as well as being environmentally responsible by reducing carbon emissions.

All of the Co-operative Housing Ireland Member Tenants residing in these homes are supported by Cheeverstown’s wraparound care model. Two households, in particular, are provided with 24-hour access to support staff. This promotes long-term stability and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities within the community.

Though the tenancy is unique, Co-operative Housing Ireland’s Member Tenant policies are applied in the same way as all other Member Tenants, ensuring they are afforded the same rights and responsibilities.

Denise Fahy, Director of Operations and Service Developments for Cheeverstown, said “The future is built through partnerships that recognise ability, create opportunity and strengthen communities.”

Further reflecting Co-operative Housing Ireland’s inclusive ethos, families were closely involved in the allocation process, with multiple property viewings ensuring satisfaction with both the layout and location. Externally, wheelchair-accessible gardens and wrap-around paving support mobility and independent living, reinforcing Co-operative Housing Ireland’s commitment to barrier-free design.

These characteristics, while integrated into the overall development, strongly support the values of sustainability, inclusion, and equitable access, going beyond standard provision to deliver a truly supportive and integrated living environment.

This event allowed partners, Member Tenants and family members to meet and see the difference that these homes have truly made.

Sharon Mahon, a Healthcare Assistant for Cheeverstown, commented, “As a staff member, I’d know these people longer than my own kids. Their quality of life has just completely changed. I keep saying that it’s the difference between day and night, it’s just a new lease of life. They’re not excluded, they’re a part of the community, the coffee shop knows them and there is a real sense of belonging here, it’s a really happy environment.”

Also in attendance on the day was Elaine Wilkinson, Facilities Manager for Cheeverstown, who said,“Everybody should have the right to live in a house in the community, with neighbours next door, rather than in a congregated setting with a large group of people they did not choose to live with.

They should have the same opportunities as everyone else. They should be able to walk to the local chemist or shops and make individual choices about where they would like to go. We always did our best to make the Cheeverstown campus welcoming and facilitate family visits, but it was not the same as being in someone’s home. Here, they have a key to their own home.”

Rory McCormack moved into his new home in Hillfort last year. Although he has lived in other places throughout his life, the only place Rory had ever called home was his family home. Since moving to Hillfort, that has changed. “This is my home.”

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