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Housing and Home Modifications

The information below outlines some of the housing options available to people with disability in the Canberra community. The My Home My Way website has resources that can help people with a disability to imagine, establish and live in their own homes.

My Home My Way website

Specialist Disability Accommodation Funding (SDA)

Funding for SDA is provided by the NDIS to a small proportion of participants with either extreme functional impairment or who have very high support needs. Participants applying for SDA must meet specific eligibility criteria.

SDA funding can be used for housing that needs specialist design and building, or to make modifications to existing homes. SDA funding cannot be used for support services, just the housing where the support takes place.

Specialist Disability Accommodation Providers

The following organisations are building specialist accommodation to meet the requirements of ACT residents with very high support needs:

CHC

CHC is developing SDA housing in Macgregor and Kambah.

CHC website

Disability Housing Solutions

Disability Housing Solutions aims to build NDIS SDA compliant properties for SDA recipients.

Disability Housing Solutions website

Summer Housing

The Summer Foundation aims to keep young people with disabilities out of nursing homes. The foundation provides information and resources to help you explore your housing options, find housing and apply for SDA. They also build SDA. Summer Housing apartments are peppered throughout larger mainstream residential developments in Belconnen, Braddon and Woden. Additional apartments are available on-site to accommodate disability support workers.

Summer Housing website

Project Independence

Project Independence provides people with an intellectual disability the opportunity to acquire equity and live independently in a property alongside nine other residents. The residents live in three separate homes on the same block. There is onsite accommodation for a live in Resident Coordinator to support all residents.

Project Independence website

Other housing providers for People with Disabilities

Several organisations in the ACT provide housing in a variety of settings for People with a Disability:

Focus ACT

Focus ACT is a Canberra based non-profit organisation that provides housing to tenants who are over 18 years old and live with an intellectual disability. Rent is charged at around 25% of a tenants income.

Focus ACT website

Havelock Housing

Havelock Housing manages supported accommodation for people with disabilities in shared group homes.

Havelock Housing website

Advertising of Housing for People with Disabilities

Housing Hub

The Summer Foundation manages the Housing Hub, a website advertising specialist disability accommodation property vacancies nationwide. The website also has information about housing options and planning a move to SDA properties.

Housing Hub website

Disability Housing

Disability Housing manages a website where nationwide specialist disability housing for sale or rent is advertised. You can also place accommodation wanted advertisements.

Disability Housing website

Nest

The Nest website lists nationwide vacancies of disability-friendly properties and rooms in houses. Homes are searchable using filters to meet accessibility, funding and support needs. Advertisers on the Nest include SDA and SIL providers, disability providers, community and social housing providers, real estate agencies and private landlords.

Nest website

e-Bility

e-Bility lists private wheelchair accessible homes that are for sale nationwide. Properties are listed by a real estate agent or by a private seller.

e-Bility website

Home Hunters Relocations

Home Hunters Relocations offers relocation services for people with disability.

Home Hunters Relocations website

NDIS find a Housemate

Posters can advertise for NDIS housemates on this private Facebook group. You don’t have to have a disability to advertise.

NDIS find a Housemate website

Home Sharing

HomeShare ACT

Community Connections HomeShare ACT service matches householders who have a disability with a home sharer who can provide support with daily living in return for a reduced rent. HomeShare ACT does not charge for the services it provides:

• matching compatible householders and home sharer's
• performing police checks
• establishing a unique agreement between householders and home sharer's
• providing ongoing support and monitoring throughout the life of the agreement.

Phone 6296 1133

Home Modifications

Home modifications allow people with disability to be more independent in their own homes. A modification might be adding a ramp or installing a grabrail. Or it might be a major redesign of your living space to include widened doorways, installation of a lift or a specialised room to meet behavioural needs. Several organisations have developed information resources useful in the design, planning and build phases of a home modification:

DIYmodify

The free DIYmodify app will help you manage your home modification with tips on equipment, installation requirements, seeking quotes, and things to consider if you rent or live in a Strata Title property.

Download the DIYmodify app

Centre for Universal Design

The Centre promotes the use of universal design principals to make the environment as inclusive and as accessible as possible for people with disabilities.

Centre for Universal Design website

The following organisations are able to provide home modification services in the Canberra region: