Advocacy for Inclusion

"providing individual and systemic advocacy to improve life for people who have a disability"

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Accommodation

From the Executive Officer

Response to the ACT Housing Summit

Advocacy for Inclusion would like to commend the initiative undertaken by the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services and the Minister Mr John Hargreaves MLA, in providing an opportunity for Canberrans to contribute to the development of future strategies to meet the housing needs and aspirations of the Canberra Community.

Although the various forums leading up to and including the ACT Ministerial Housing Summit held on 27 February 2006 assisted in ensuring that some of the accommodation needs of many Canberrans were highlighted, Advocacy for Inclusion believes that the various and individual needs for people who have a disability require a more urgent focus.

People who have a disability rarely have the opportunity to access mainstream housing either due to the nature of their disability or a lack of financial resources as a result of their disability. A home of our own is a common desire for most people in modern Australian society1. Unfortunately this common desire is rarely afforded to people who have a disability except in times of crisis where the person can no longer live in the family home. Many ageing parents are currently seeking appropriate accommodation for their sons and daughters but there are either limited or no options available to them. Immediate support must be provided to parents/carers who are ageing and still caring for their son or daughter whilst alternative options are being considered.

As part of the 2006-2007 Budget initiatives a new priority category will be “created for those who are judged to have the highest and most immediate needs…and the income eligibility criteria for Housing ACT will be tightened to 60% of Australian average weekly earnings for singles and 75% of Australian average weekly earnings for couples”2. This initiative will certainly benefit people who have a disability “where natural support mechanisms are in danger of failing”3 but this does not by any means solve the accommodation issues for the majority of people who have a disability.

Younger people who have a disability are following their peers and siblings in a desire to move out of the family home. Many people who have an intellectual disability or a mild disability do not require fulltime support but require flexible and timely assistance in transition periods. With this transition comes issues relating to appropriate accommodation and support for people who wish to live independently from their families but cannot afford market rent. The Co-Tenanting in Public and Community Housing and the Responsive Landlord for Housing and Tenancy Support models4 mentioned in the Disability Housing Ministerial Advisory Forum could be appropriate models for people who have a mild disability as long as it is person centred. Further investigation into these models has been recommended to the Minister by Advocacy for Inclusion, inclusive of the issues already outlined in the discussion paper.

When looking to the Visions and Values Statement developed by the Disability Reform Group and the vision to “live how they choose to live” this can only be accomplished if the ACT Government allot housing specifically for people who have a disability. The model of Ring Fencing 5 housing specifically for people who have a disability is strongly supported by Advocacy for Inclusion as long as there is a commitment from the government of funding provided for disability modifications that may be required.

Advocacy for Inclusion acknowledges that Ring Fencing housing stock for people who have a disability would be an ‘out of turn’ allocation and is therefore competing with the needs of people who are in urgent or critical need. The justification behind this request is that many families currently supporting people who have a disability are also in urgent and critical need but because the person who has a disability has a home they are not considered as a priority.

Advocacy for Inclusion, being aware of the unmet need, has requested that the Government provide more accommodation options be made available to people who have a disability and that the current shortage of appropriate options is addressed immediately. People who have a disability should have appropriate accommodation and supports from Housing ACT, Disability ACT, Community Housing and the Non-government sector according to their choice to enable them to live fulfilling lives.

Also available on this website under publications is the Advocacy for Inclusion’s Accommodation Position Paper which contains objectives and practical suggestions that relate to an inclusive living approach. Advocacy for Inclusion recommends the Paper be used to establish a guiding philosophy that will under-pin practice when supporting people who have a disability to live in the Canberra community.

Advocacy for Inclusion will continue to advocate for positive outcomes in accommodation options for people who have a disability and would be interested in discussing any of the issues raised in this paper further.

Liz Blakey______
Executive Officer______
Advocacy for Inclusion______

1. Advocacy for Inclusion Accommodation Position Paper
2. Fact Sheet #F13: Changes to the Public Rental Housing Assistance Program
3. Ibid
4. Discussion Paper, Housing for People with a Disability, 7 February 2006, page 7
5. Ibid, page 9

Have a Say

If you would to provide your story to inform our systems advocacy on accommodation issues please call our Executive Officer, Liz Blakey on 6286 9422 or email her at liz@advocacyforinclusion.org. We are also able to provide advocacy on individual issues where required.

Advocacy for Inclusion resources

• Accommodation Position Paper
• A Bed in a House is not a Home
• You and I by Elaine Popovich
• Group Homes Information Sheet

Other resources

• Family Advocacy's Website - Family Advocacy is an independent, community based social advocacy organisation which works across New South Wales, with families in which there is a child or an adult who has a developmental disability.
• TAS Housing - A non profit government funded community agency, providing a range of housing services for adults with a disability. Working with individuals and their support networks to achieve independent living in our community.

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