Acre Housing

Acre Housing, a registered charity established in 2004 and based in Oxfordshire, UK, is dedicated to tackling the chronic shortage of specialised, quality housing for adults over 18 with learning disabilities, including autism, cerebral palsy, and Down's syndrome. Born from the legacy of institutional care and social exclusion, its mission emphasises choice, control, community integration, and equal citizenship, providing secure, adapted independent living options that affirm personal dignity and long-term family reassurance. With a person-centred ethos rooted in the social model of disability, Acre Housing owns and manages 39 properties housing 116 tenants, prioritising needs-led adaptations over institutional designs to foster social inclusion.

The charity's singular focus is direct provision of supported housing in Oxfordshire, investing all resources in acquiring, adapting, and maintaining properties for eligible adults with learning disabilities. It supports tenants referred through statutory pathways, enabling tenancy rights, wellbeing, and community participation rather than funding external projects, research, or general initiatives.

Eligibility is tightly defined: only Oxfordshire residents or those strongly connected to the county, assessed via local authority care managers or social services—no unsolicited applications from individuals, families, or organisations. Acre Housing does not make external grants of any type (project, core, capital, or revenue), with no income/size rules, open rounds, deadlines, or application processes for outsiders.

Distinctively, unlike traditional funders, Acre Housing operates exclusively as a housing provider without grant-making, distinguishing it through its deep local portfolio, safeguarding focus, and rejection of remote/institutional care, aligning solely with learning disability housing needs in Oxfordshire.