Unlocking NDIS Housing with Support Coordination

NDIS Housing Options

There are many reasons why you might need a housing solution, just some of these include where an adult (under 45 years) resides in an aged care facility and wants to live with people of their own age, a decline in health, or upon discharge from hospital after having a stroke, an amputation or an acquired brain injury diagnosis.

The NDIS provides a range of housing options for clients, these include:

• Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
• Supported Independent Living (SIL) arrangements
• Buying your own property
• Living with flatmates or host arrangements
• Other mainstream housing options, including private rentals, public housing, and community housing providers
• Remaining in your current housing
• Short-term, medium-term, and crisis accommodation

Most clients will continue to access housing in the private market by owning or renting, or through social housing and clients are responsible for the day-today living costs including rent, groceries, utilities, telephone or internet costs. This is the same for general household items such as a bed, fridge or cooking utensils and any personal items a client is wanting.

Navigating NDIS Housing Support: The First Steps

NDIS has introduced a new process for clients to request housing support through the ‘Home and Living’ department. Support coordinators assist in completing a Home and Living Self-Assessment and submitting it along with a Change in Situation report to NDIA for adding a housing goal to the NDIS plan. An occupational therapist conducts a Functional Capacity/Housing Assessment to determine the client’s independence level and necessary support, which is then submitted to the Home and Living Team.

The Home and Living team assess requests, determines the housing solution and ratio you will be funded for. The ratio indicates the number of housemates and support workers required.

Finding Your Perfect Home: Sourcing Housing and Moving In

With your new NDIS plan in hand, which now includes a housing goal, your coordinator will help you find the perfect home, they will support you, to visit properties, organise a short term visit of a few days if needed to see if you like the house and other clients (if you are not the first person to move in) and help with organising all the paperwork for your accommodation, schedules of supports for the support staff, and hiring or purchasing all of the equipment that you will need to live comfortably in your new home.

Sometimes finding the right home and housemates can take a bit longer than people would like, I always reminded my clients and their families, that we are trying to find a forever home, with amazing supports who are fully prepared to support you, and this shouldn’t be rushed.

Your support coordinator should make this transition be as seamless as possible for you, you should feel confident that your support coordinator has the experience and knowledge of navigating the housing process.

The support coordinators at Focal have helped many clients find NDIS housing and suitable supports. They know the housing sector well and stay up to date on NDIS changes. Please feel free to contact us at supportcoordination@focal.org.au if you would like any assistance with your NDIS plan or would like to know about your housing options.