This year, Mencap’s Learning Disability Week runs from Monday 15 to Sunday 21 June 2026, and the theme is a simple but powerful question: “Do you see me?” 

It is a message created by people with a learning disability themselves — a call to be seen, heard, included, and valued in all aspects of life. And it is a question that sits right at the heart of everything we do at Supported Living Gateway. 

Because when someone has the right home — a safe, stable, appropriate place to call their own — being seen becomes possible. Without it, it is not. 

The Reality Behind the Theme

Mencap’s statistics paint a stark picture of life for people with a learning disability in the UK today: 

• Only 26.7% of adults with a learning disability are in employment, yet 86% of those who are unemployed want a paid job. 

• One in three people with a learning disability spends less than one hour outside their home on a typical Saturday. 

• Over 2,000 people with a learning disability and/or autism are currently locked away in mental health hospitals. 

These are not abstract policy problems. They are the daily reality for hundreds of thousands of people across England. And inadequate, inappropriate, or simply unavailable housing is one of the central drivers of each one of them. 

Housing Is Not a Side Issue — It Is the Foundation

When someone with a learning disability has a suitable, stable home with the right level of support, everything else becomes more achievable. They can access employment. They can get out into their community. They have a base from which to build a life of genuine independence. 

Supported living is the model that makes this possible. It combines appropriate accommodation with tailored care and support, helping people live as independently as they are able. The National Housing Federation has projected that by 2040, England will need an additional 167,329 supported housing units — a 33% increase on current provision. The demand is not slowing down; it is accelerating. 

Yet supply continues to lag. That gap has consequences for real people — people who deserve to be seen. 

What Property Investors Can Do

Here is what many people do not realise: property investors do not need to build specialist facilities or make significant adaptations to make a difference. Around 85–90% of the properties listed on the Supported Living Gateway require zero adaptations compared to a standard rental property. 

A well-maintained two-bedroom flat, a family-sized bungalow, a block of one-bedroom self-contained units — these are the kinds of properties that care providers are actively looking for right now, in towns and cities across the UK. In many cases, the property you already own, or the next one you are considering purchasing, could provide a home for someone who genuinely needs it. 

The financial case is compelling too. Supported living leases typically offer: 

• Long-term, stable rental income with no void periods. 

• Net rental returns comparable to — or better than — private market lettings, as the care provider takes on operating costs such as maintenance, certifications, and management. 

• Lease agreements backed by local authority funding streams, providing an additional layer of security. 

But alongside the financial return, investors consistently tell us about something else: the sense of purpose that comes from knowing their property is genuinely changing someone’s life. 

Being Seen Starts With Having Somewhere to Live

Learning Disability Week asks us all: do you see the people around you who have a learning disability? Do you see what they need, what they contribute, and what they are capable of? 

For those of us working in supported living — whether as care providers, property investors, housing professionals, or sector specialists — the answer has to go beyond words. It has to mean action. 

Every suitable property brought into the supported living sector is a direct response to that question. It says: yes, we see you. And we are doing something about it. 

Get Involved with Supported Living Gateway

If you are a property investor who would like to understand how your portfolio could support people with learning disabilities and other vulnerable groups, we are here to help. 

We offer: 

• Education and training to help you understand the sector. 

• Area appraisals to show you the demand in your local market. 

• A property portal connecting you directly with vetted care providers. 

• Networking events where you can meet investors, providers, and sector specialists face to face. 

• Specialist partners in finance, insurance, and legal services. 

Find out more at www.supportedlivinggateway.com or get in touch at hello@supportedlivinggateway.com. 

Learning Disability Week 2026 runs from 15 to 21 June. To find out more about Mencap’s “Do you see me?” campaign and how you can get involved, visit www.mencap.org.uk/learningdisabilityweek.