Making Housing and Support Work Together

The NDIS plan sets the foundation

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) plans are unique to the needs of each participant. When it comes to housing and support options, a well-structured plan is key. It makes sure people get the right services in the right place.

A good NDIS plan covers three main areas:

1. Understanding Support Needs

First, it’s important to figure out what type and amount of support a person needs.? This is usually determined through a formal assessment of need. This might include help with daily tasks, special equipment, or a location near important services. All of this should be clearly written in the NDIS plan, so everyone involved knows what is needed and what services to provide.

2. Choosing the Right Housing

For people who are eligible for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), the next step is finding the right type of housing. This could be a shared home or an individual place, depending on the person’s needs and what funding is available.

3. Coordinating Support and Housing

The final step is making sure that the support services are available and work well with the available home. This coordination is important for making sure everything runs smoothly and the person can live comfortably.

Why It’s Important to Have Everything Ready

If any part of the housing or support arrangement isn’t ready, it can cause problems. Without the right modifications or services, someone may have to wait longer to move in. If the arrangement is not stable, it can cause stress, lower quality of life, and even lead to the breakdown of the tenancy. When this happens, it adds costs and can make things worse for everyone involved.

That’s why NDIS plans should take a full, structured look at both housing and support. When everything is coordinated, it gives people the best chance for a stable and happy living situation.

"Everyone deserves a safe, stable, and supportive home. This includes have the right to security of tenure and choice over who they live with." - Laura Green

Tenancy Rights for People in SDA

People with disability living in SDA have the same rights as other tenants under the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA). This law makes sure tenants in SDA have clear rights, such as:

Security of Tenure: Residents have the right to a safe and stable home. They can’t be evicted without following proper legal steps.

Maintenance and Repairs: Residents have the right to live in a safe home. They can ask for repairs, and the SDA provider must keep the property in good condition.

Privacy and Respect: SDA tenants have the same privacy as any other tenant. They should be notified before inspections or repairs, and they must always be treated with respect.

Separation of Supports and Housing

In SDA (and other housing options for that matter!), support services should be separate from the housing provider. While this may create an increased requirement for communication between services, it also makes the living arrangement safer. It allows residents to raise concerns about their housing or support without fear of conflict. This separation helps protect their rights and ensures that their needs are met independently.

The NDIS supports this separation to give participants more choice and control. This means they can change their support services without affecting their housing situation, leading to more independence and security at home.

By keeping housing and support separate, we can safeguard residents’ rights, giving them more stability and freedom in their living arrangements.

A well-structured NDIS plan that clearly addresses housing and support needs can provide people with disability the stability and independence they deserve. By ensuring that all components—support services, housing arrangements, and tenancy rights—are coordinated, people with disability can live in environments that foster safety, comfort, and inclusion. Separation of housing and support services further empowers individuals by giving them control over their living situations and the ability to advocate for their needs. With the right planning and collaboration, we can create homes that are not just places to live but environments where people with disability thrive.

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Laura Green is a fierce advocate for accessible, inclusive housing and is currently the Interim Chief Executive Officer at Inclusive Housing Australia. With a wealth of experience in disability services and housing, Laura is dedicated to creating environments where people with disability can live with dignity, independence, and support. Her work focuses on ensuring that housing solutions are tailored to individual needs and that all people have the opportunity to thrive in a safe and welcoming home.