EPISODE 319 - The Gaps in Disability Housing: Kirstie Shaw

This episode has Minh chatting to Kirstie Shaw from Melbourne. Kirstie chats about the gaps in disability housing, from someone who is on the ground in Melbourne, and this episode gives our listeners a better awareness on this subject.Independent Living Options (ILO) Model The ILO model (aka ILA) is intended to be a flexible model where a person can live alone, with a flatmate, or in a co-designed arrangement. However, it fails in practice because it only funds support, not housing or rent. It is only a viable option if the person can afford rent or access private housing.Supported Independent Living (SIL) Model IssuesSIL is usually delivered in group homes managed by a single provider, who often controls both tenancy and support. This creates critical concerns, as residents are often placed with people they didn't choose, have little say over routines, and may have staff imposed on them. Support is often bundled with housing, meaning participants risk eviction if they wish to change support providers.Guardianship and Conflict of InterestA concerning trend identified shows some SIL providers initiating guardianship proceedings or nominating themselves as guardians. This allows them to gain control over finances, medical decisions, or daily life, creating a significant ethical conflict and resulting in a total loss of autonomy for the participant, where the provider controls housing, support, and legal authority.Low Eligibility for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)SDA is a very niche and specialist solution, available to only 3% of NDIS participants, not the forecast 6%. It only funds the building, not the support, and is often shared and location-limited.Public and Community HousingPublic housing has waitlists often exceeding 10 years with very limited accessible stock, and the system does not consistently prioritise people with disability, especially those not at immediate risk of homelessness. Community housing, managed by not-for-profit or mission-based providers, also has long waitlists (minimum 3 years) and can replicate group home power dynamics. Some providers mandate in-house support workers, denying choice, or pressure tenants to change services, or even threaten eviction if imposed support is resisted, with guardianship issues also occurring.--------------------------Send us Fan MailNDIS PROPERTY AUSTRALIA:Our team conducts thorough research on Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) and provides appropriate technical advice through premium and strategy-based solutions. We also use complex feasibility calculation spreadsheets to help investors understand the expected annual income of an SDA dwelling, the timeline stages of construction of their property, as well as revealing the hidden costs. By staying up-to-date with the latest SDA data and pricing payments information, we help clients make better-informed decisions and achieve their investment goals.FOLLOW US:LinkedInInstagramFacebookCONTACT:Please feel free to call us on 1300 254 397 to talk to one of our friendly staff, otherwise,  just pop on over to our website to find out more.For any podcast related queries or suggestions, please contact our podcast team via [email protected]