In recent months, the Summer Foundation has invited ministers and senators to visit new Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), to meet tenants and to see what innovative SDA housing looks like. Visits have been organised with the support of SDA providers.
We met with Minister for the NDIS, the Hon Bill Shorten MP, Shadow Minister for the NDIS the Hon Michael Sukkar MP, Dr Monique Ryan MP, South Australian Minister for Human Services the Hon Nat Cook MP and South Australian Equal Opportunity Commissioner Jodeen Carney. At each location we met a tenant who lives in the property, or is soon to move in. The tenants shared their journey to SDA, the impact it has had on their lives and the importance of quality, accessible housing for people with disability.
These visits highlight the importance of choice, control and independence in housing for people with disability and the impact of slow decision-making by the NDIA, continuing the work of the Down to 10 Days campaign.
We would like to thank our guests and tenants for their time and sharing their stories and look forward to continued collaboration on this issue.
The Summer Foundation is pleased to see the introduction of Dr Monique Ryan MP’s private members bill enforcing a 10-day time frame on the National Disability Insurance Agency to fund housing and supports for those wanting to move into SDA and quality support coordination to navigate home and living options.