Tenants
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Custom new homes for people who have very high support needs.
What is Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)?
Specialist Disability Accommodation, sometimes called SDA is a type of accommodation for people with disability who require special housing that assists them to have the support they need to live as independently as possible.
Depending on the tenant, an SDA property might have features such as, modified kitchen, widened doorways, or strong walls that don’t get damaged easily.
Does the housing have support?
Abilities Housing Services does not directly provide support. We work with other organisations who provide support to people living in our houses. This type of support is called Supported Independent Living or SIL.
We think that it is important for different organisations to provide accommodation and support. This allows participants to change support providers but remain in their home if they are not happy with support their are receiving.
Can I live in Specialist Disability Accommodation?
Not all NDIS participants or people with disability are eligible to live in Specialist Disability Accommodation. To be eligible for SDA, you must have an Extreme Functional Impairment or Very High Support Needs. This is assessed by the NDIS.
Extreme Functional Impairment
Means that you need a high level of support with things like:
- Getting out of bed
- Getting Dressed
- Feeding yourself
- Going out of the house
Very High Support Needs
Very High Support Needs means that you need a lot of support each day. This support might be provided by your parents or family, a nursing home, or a disability group home.
For more information about Specialist Disability Accommodation see the NDIS information.
Participant FAQs
How long does it take for the NDIS to assess my application?
It can take up to 12 months from start to finish to get funding for Specialist Disability Accommodation Funding (SDA homes). For Supported Independent Living (SIL) homes, it can be much faster. It is important to speak to your Support Coordinator as soon as possible to tell the NDIS that you are looking for housing; this will begin the process.
How much rent do I pay?
At Abilities Housing Services, rent is called Reasonable Rent Contribution (RRC).
The amount of rent you pay is based on a percentage % of your Disability Support Pension. This means that as your pension changes, the amount of rent you pay will change.
Reasonable Rent Contribution is 25% of the Commonwealth Disability Support Pension, as well as all (100%) of any Commonwealth Rent Assistance you receive.
Do I need to bring my own furniture?
Furniture is provided in the living areas of all Abilities Housing Services – Shared homes.
For homes that are occupied by one person only, you may need to provide furniture. This will be discussed with you when you apply to live in an Abilities Housing Services home.
Can I smoke in my house?
No, smoking is not allowed inside any Abilities Housing Services property. Smoking is only allowed in designated smoking areas.
Can I choose my own SIL service?
For shared homes, there may be an existing SIL (Supported Independent Living) service already providing support to other people living in the home.
If you want to change SIL service, Abilities Housing Services will facilitate a vote. A majority of people living in the home must choose to change SIL provider.
For homes where you are the only occupant, you may change SIL services (please be aware that you may need to give notice to your current support provider).
Does Abilities Housing Services provide Support?
Abilities Housing Services Does Not provide any support services. We believe it is important that accommodation and support are provided by different organisations. This means you can have Choice and Control and change support provider (by vote) while staying in the same house.
What do I do if I am unhappy about my accommodation?
We care about the happiness of our tenants. If you are unhappy about your accommodation, or anything to do with Abilities Housing Services you can submit a complaint to us. (Change to AHS Complaint Form)
You may also make a complaint about Abilities Housing Services directly to the NDIS Commission.
Are you eligible to apply?
There’s only one way to find out. Hit the button below to enquire about Abilities Housing Services (AHS), and we’ll let you know how we can help!