Spotlight on Disability Housing

In late February 2023, Believe Housing Australia and the Community Housing Council of SA (CHCSA) hosted a 100-person roundtable of sector experts from services, not for profit and government, to address the housing crisis and its impacts on one of the most vulnerable cohorts, people living with disability.

The roundtable was part of a series of cross sector events, held to bring together many of the best minds and specialists to collaboratively develop strategies and solutions to deliver more housing in South Australia.

Stacey Northover, Believe Housing Australia Acting Executive General Manager, said recent announcements regarding the Housing Australia Future Fund and rental reforms to protect tenants were heartening, but that there was still much to be done.

“We hope the release of the Housing Australia Future Fund, along with state government initiatives, and housing delivered by local housing providers, will all have a very real and lasting impact on the most vulnerable Australians,” she said.

“The community, government and housing sectors must work together to end this worsening crisis.”

“We know that housing plays a major role in the health and wellbeing of people with disability, by providing shelter, safety and security. The availability of accessible, affordable, appropriate housing helps people with disability to participate in the social, economic and community aspects of everyday life.”

“A person who does not have access to affordable, secure and appropriate housing may experience several negative consequences, including homelessness, poor health, and lower rates of employment and education.”

“The onus is on all of us to keep the spotlight centred squarely on the housing crisis and its impacts, until everyone has a place to call home.”

The roundtables come off the back of the research report, Beyond the Housing Crisis – A Home for All, jointly launched by Believe Housing Australia and UniSA earlier this year. The report highlighted a property market gone rampant and a housing crisis that sees more than 6,000 people experiencing homelessness each night in SA alone.

Believe Housing Australia and CHCSA have presented two other roundtables and produced outcomes and recommendations following both, that have been distributed to the sector and the Minister. Read more about the Youth Roundtable and Over 55s Roundtable outcomes.