Whilst backing the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), CHIA and the State Peaks have identified a series of crucial issues facing the NDIS Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Framework, which aims to deliver the preferred housing for people living with a disability.

The community housing peaks outlined their concerns in a submission to the Department of Social Services (DSS) commissioned review of the framework, setting out three key concerns: vacancy, financing and management risks.

The NDIS will fund services to an estimated 460,000 people who have a permanent disability that significantly affects their communication, mobility, self-care or self-management. Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is the NDIS funding for allocated housing (not support) to eligible NDIS participants with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs – typically those who require overnight support.

SDA will be available to about six per cent of NDIS participants.

The Joint Peaks submission also outlined members’ capacity and potential to play a central role in developing and managing SDA to meet the intent of the NDIS.

Click here to download the submission.