Advocacy for Inclusion is disappointed to learn that Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) funding that could have supported people with disability in Canberra’s public housing appears to have gone unclaimed for years.
SDA funding arrangements are complex but given our understanding that Housing ACT registered as a provider back in or around 2017, we’re troubled it has taken this long for the issues to come to light.
We became aware of this issue late last week. To the Government’s credit, Minister Berry was open with us about her concern that this had occurred.
We understand that the Minister has appropriately referred the processes around this to the Auditor General for investigation. We’ve said to the ACT Government that we’re keen to see this funding flow to Canberrans with disability as quickly as possible within sustainable arrangements for SDA that involve oversight from Disabled Peoples Organisations.
While we understand some SDA funding has supported tenants in community housing with modifications, the broader concern is the large number of public housing tenants with disability who could have been assisted but weren’t.
This is frustrating given more than half of ACT public housing tenants have disability, yet only 60% of these homes meet acceptable standards. Wait times for priority housing stretch to 139 days, while public housing supply has actually decreased and maintenance funding has experienced some cuts since 2021-221.
There’s a pressing need to identify those who might be eligible for SDA assistance and chart a clear path forward – this may include identifying transitional providers to expedite the process.
The modifications we’re talking about aren’t trivial – accessible bathrooms, kitchens, and entry points that reduce falls risks and enable people to live safely. Without these modifications, people are unnecessarily stuck in hospitals like the rehabilitation hospital or at risk of falls, situations of homelessness or being placed in nursing homes inappropriately.
AFI is working with other organisations to form a full response, and we anticipate making representations along these lines in the coming days.
We’ll let others focus on blame – we want to be part of the solution and see good outcomes for people waiting for SDA support.
However, we also need to look beyond SDA funding alone.
The private rental market needs incentives for landlords to provide accessible housing – including tax breaks, planning preferences, and support for “mum and dad” landlords. We also need better identification of accessible properties in rental listings, improved application processes that support people with disability, and longer-term leases that make NDIS-funded home modifications worthwhile.
This broader policy work, as well as fixing SDA, is essential to addressing the housing crisis facing people with disability in the ACT.
Issued by Craig Wallace, Head of Policy 0477 200 755.