Disability options
The Department of Communities (Communities) offers a range
of housing options to help people with disability access appropriate and
affordable housing. This includes people with intellectual, physical, sensory
or psychiatric impairment.
To be eligible,
your disability must be permanent or likely to be permanent and impacts on your
housing requirements (i.e. building design, proximity to services and/or
support needs). You must also meet the income limits for people with disability.
People with disability have several housing options. These include:
- mainstream rental housing
- home modifications to make housing more accessible
- purpose-built rental accommodation
- home loans to purchase, build or modify private homes
- community housing, where non-profit organisations manage the accommodation for clients with
disability
- bond assistance.
For more information please refer to the Housing
options for people with disability or visit your nearest Housing office.
Home modifications
Communities will
provide appropriate housing to meet your disability needs. This may include
modifying an existing public rental property
to improve access e.g. installing ramps, grab rails and/or bathroom
renovations.
Applicants with a
disability will need to provide an occupational therapist assessment report or
if you do not have an occupational therapist, Communities will arrange
for one to visit you and assess your housing needs.
Tenants with a
disability can apply for home modifications through their Housing office to
improve access around their home. Communities will discuss the modifications
with you and/or arrange for an occupational therapist to visit your home to
determine what modifications are needed.
In some instances, it may
not be possible or practical to modify your existing home to meet your
needs. If this occurs, Communities will look at other options such as
a transfer to a more accessible or appropriately located property, or if
necessary, build a purpose-built home to meet your disability needs.
Purpose-built homes
Purpose-built
accommodation is primarily constructed for those with physical disabilities. These
are referred to as mobility homes. Communities also purpose build for
people with other types of disability. Communities may build group homes
or cluster unit developments to meet a person's disability and social needs.
Purpose-built
mobility homes are provided to those applicants and/or tenants for whom Communities is
unable to accommodate in existing stock with or without modifications.
Some of the design
features include level thresholds, wider doorways and passages to allow for
wheelchair access, low kitchen bench-tops, large rocker switches and power
points set at appropriate heights and accessible bathroom design.
If you wish to
discuss what type of housing would best suit your needs please contact your
nearest Housing Office.
Access Home Loan Scheme
The Access Home
Loan Scheme is designed to help people with disability buy their own
home or modify an existing private home to cater for their needs.
People on
disability support benefits and their carers in receipt of a pension can apply
for this loan.