Introductory guide to accommodation options available under the NDIS, including eligibility and types of support.
Understanding NDIS social housing models and housing arrangements can be confusing. In this article we cover access to secure and affordable disability-specific shared supports and how to find your ideal living arrangements.
Accommodation options within the National Disability Insurance Scheme
In Australia, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has been established to meet the support needs of people with disability. The state and territory governments collaborate to ensure funding and support is available for people living in metropolitan, regional and rural areas. They work with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), which oversees the operations of the NDIS.
The aim of the NDIS is to provide people with disability with the opportunity to make choices about the supports they receive. An NDIS plan outlines the services and supports that will help a participant to live independently and choose their level of community participation. A participant is given a high degree of control over when and how they access supports. Participants can receive assistance with the tasks of daily living, as well as housing, social and community participation supports.
Housing and living supports for NDIS participants
Having a safe, comfortable and well designed home is important for everyone, but especially NDIS participants. People with disability often have special requirements for how their home is designed and set out. They may require wide doorways and halls for a wheelchair, or special equipment like hoists to help them get in and out of bed.
They may need a home with accessible and robust construction, or where home modifications have been carried out, or perhaps they need special assistive technology. NDIS services can be arranged in these situations.
How accommodation is funded in the NDIS?
While rent is not funded through the NDIS, people with disability can apply for funding for accommodation and living support services. This is an important distinction. People who have been assessed as eligible for accommodation support will be allocated monies to cover the costs of living in an appropriate dwelling. The funding allocated for accommodation support is indicated within a person’s NDIS plan.
Eligibility for NDIS accommodation supported independent living
To be eligible for the NDIS, and NDIS housing support, you must:
be aged over 9 years
be an Australian Citizen, or hold a permanent resident visa or on another eligible visa such as a protected special category visa
have a disability caused by a permanent impairment
An eligibility assessment needs to be conducted before funding for accommodation can be allocated. Usually, accommodation requirements are discussed during an NDIS assessment. An NDIS assessment is a holistic interview during which all of a person’s needs and requirements are communicated. Medical notes and support letters from medical and health professionals may also be provided and discussed.
Once a person has been assessed as eligible for monies for accommodation, they can begin looking for a home that meets their needs. NDIS housing comes in many types. Approved NDIS providers may manage and operate a single or multiple dwellings, and will provide both housing and living supports.
When to access NDIS housing support
A person’s disability support needs may change over time. This can mean that they need to move to a new home that is better suited to their requirements. In some cases, participants may need to move out from a home they share with someone else because there has been a family or relationship breakdown. Or, the participant may want to move out of their parent’s home to gain more independence.
When changes like this occur, NDIS participants can be encouraged to discuss their options with their support workers and families. Finding appropriate housing should be a priority.
Specialist Disability Accommodation SDA explained
Specialist Disability Accommodation SDA is a type of living support that can be funded by the NDIS. Specialist Disability Accommodation is a type of accommodation that is provided to people with very complex or high support needs. SDA housing and living supports are best suited to clients with extreme functional impairment. SDA home must meet particular design standards and be fully accessible.
Supported Independent Living explained
Supported Independent Living SIL is another type of program and support that may be allocated in a person’s NDIS plan. SIL houses are suitable for participants who have a degree of independence, but may require some help with the tasks of daily life. This could be help with getting up and ready for the day, personal care, meal preparation or other supports.
Respite accommodation explained
There are also several types of respite that can be funded under the NDIS. Respite is a service that enables a carer to have a break from caring for a person with disability. An NDIS participant can have a short stay in a specially designed home, where they will be cared for. This enables their carer or family members to get away, have a holiday or have medical treatment they require. Read more about carer support through the NDIS.
Short term accommodation can also been made available to an NDIS participant on who is waiting to move into a more permanent and longer term home.
Nursed Care for living supports
Nursed Care is a community services and support provider based in Paramatta and servicing all of the metro area in New South Wales. Nursed Care is fully accredited and a trusted provider of NDIS and My Aged Care services. We provide domestic assistance, home modifications, medical care, personal care, employment advice, social participation and more, to help our clients live independently.
Nursed Care for your ideal housing and living arrangements
As well as our wide range of personal, domestic and social supports, we also manage and provide accommodation options for participants in both the Supported Independent Living and the Specialist Disability Accommodation categories. We manage housing options for participants with intellectual and physical disabilities.
We can also help you find your ideal home is through our Individualised Living Options supports program. Contact us to discover more about our housing and living supports and how we can help you feel more independent in your daily life. Take control of your future with assistance from Nursed Care!
Related questions
If you have been approved for accommodation through the NDIS, there are a few ways you can find the access housing and find right option for you. The market for social housing can be difficult and even when funding as been approved through the NDIS, it can be hard for some people to find an adequate home. The SDA finder tool on the NDIS website, or the one our website are great places to start. You can search for available SDA properties by location or browse for SDA homes that have the features you require.
We are all aware about the shortage of affordable housing options in Australia today. There are pressures within the housing system and finding an affordable NDIS home can be a challenge. However, at Nursed Care we are regularly listing newly available SDA properties on our website – check our listings in the SDA finder for the latest releases. These properties are affordable for people who have been approved for housing supports within the NDIS housing system. The NDIS works by providing financial resources to cover the costs of supports and housing that participants need.
Some NDIS accessible housing is built for just one person. In most cases though, a few people live together in a shared home. This means that all the residents can share NDIS services and supports, and have care provided around the clock if required. Shared living arrangements in SDA homes can have other benefits. Participants living in group home settings can share social, recreational and entertainment opportunities and often become great friends. Sharing supports also reduces the cost overall.
