By Charlene Macaulay
A unique partnership will give young people with disabilities the opportunity to live independently.
Empowered Liveability, a disability-specific property development company, has teamed with disability service provider GenU to build a number of specialist houses across Australia, including six in Wyndham, that will allow people with high-care needs to live independently with round-the-clock care.
Earlier this month, construction was complete on the first property, a four-bedroom, two-bathroom house in Tarneit, with residents expected to move in coming weeks.
Empowered Liveability co-director Nicole Doherty said the organisation was founded on the belief that people with a disability should not be forced into unsuitable living conditions, such as aged care facilities.
“As most of us know, accommodation [for people with a disability] has been an issue forever and a day,” Ms Doherty said.
“A lot of our clients were stuck – whether it was in hospitals, hotels, caravan parks, aged-care facilities – unsuitable places, places they don’t want to be.
“I thought ‘I could do one house’ … we’ve got 25 houses in Victoria, and another 30 interstate starting.”
Goro Gupta from Empowered Liveability said currently between 5000 and 8000 young people live in aged care homes.
“It’s been a really powerful journey over the past two years and we’re looking forward for this to be the beginning of even greater things.”
Eligible residents need to be an NDIS participant with SDA funding, or with an exploring housing options provision.
For more information, call 1300 974 912 or go to www.empoweredliveability.com.au
