Understanding The Different Types of NDIS Accommodation Available in Melbourne

Introduction

The NDIS home you choose for you will be the ultimate foundation for you in terms of your well-being and independence. But, with so many NDIS accommodation options, it often gets confusing. And, hold on! It doesn't end there. Each of these accommodation types, whether it is Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), or Supported Independent Living (SIL), or Short-Term Accommodation (STA), come along with their different sets of support models, eligibility and funding criteria.

This blog will describe the various types of NDIS accommodations (available in Melbourne), along with their support models and eligibility criteria, so that you can make informed decisions about which one to choose.

Types of NDIS Accommodation Available in Melbourne

Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)

Support Model:

Specialised Disability Accommodation (SDA) is designed explicitly for NDIS participants with extreme functional impairment or high/critical support needs. This type of housing facility comprises a shared home structure that allows only a limited number of individuals to settle in to avoid congestion. It is built in a style that offers easy accessibility and extremely high-quality support (especially physical).

Eligibility Criteria:

• You must have extreme functional impairment or very high support needs.
• You must require a significant level of support to conduct your day-to-day activities.
• SDA must be the more cost-effective solution compared to other NDIS accommodations.
• You must be an NDIS participant.
• Short-Term Accommodation (STA)

Support Model:

Short-Term Accommodation (STA), also known as respite care, is a unique housing facility that lets the NDIS participants stay out of their homes for a short period (as the name suggests) to provide a break to their carers while enabling them to take a short break themselves from their daily mundane routine. Usually, in STA, the participants are provided with various fun activities, individually as well as in groups, like singing, dancing, cooking, etc.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Your carer must either need a short break from supporting you.
• Or, you and your family or support network are in an emergency.
• Or, you’re trying out new living arrangements and trying to become more independent.
• Or, you want to meet new people and develop essential skills.
• You must be an NDIS participant.
• Medium -Term Accommodation (MTA)

Support Model:

The NDIS funds Medium-Term Accommodation (MTA) so that the participants have a place to stay and access all their support needs while transitioning. They are shifting to their long-term accommodation but cannot do so because their disability support facilities are not ready. The NDIS funds MTA for a maximum period of 90 days, against STA’s 28-day time limit.

Eligibility Criteria:

• You must either be waiting for home modifications to be completed.
• Or, you must be waiting for assistive technologies to be delivered, installed or fitted in your permanent home.
• Or, you’re waiting for a vacancy in your chosen long-term property (usually SDA).
• You must be an NDIS participant.
• Supported Independent Living (SIL)

Support Model:

Supported Independent Living (SIL) enables the NDIS participants to stay in a housing facility to manage their daily tasks and live as independently as possible. Specific SIL homes exist for this purpose. These SIL homes usually allow disabled individuals to live in a shared home support system. It is best suited for individuals who require support and help 7 days a week from support providers.

Eligibility Criteria:

• You must need daily living assistance support throughout the week, usually 8 hours daily. This can include overnight support as well.
• You must want to live independently.
• SIL must be the more cost-effective solution compared to other NDIS accommodations.
• You must be an NDIS participant.

Individualised Living Option (ILO)

Support Model:

The Individualised Living Option (ILO) allows the NDIS participants to choose flexibly how they want to live, i.e., whether they want to live individually or in shared accommodation (with someone they choose to live with), and so on. The individual can further choose to stay in a group home with a host.

Eligibility Criteria:

You must require support at home for at least 6 hours daily. This support can be either formal (paid support from service providers) or informal (i.e., friends or family).

• Your NDIS plan must compromise ILO.
• You must be willing to design your ILO conditions and living situations.
• You must be an NDIS participant.
• Group Homes

Support Model:

As the name suggests, NDIS Group Homes enable the NDIS participants to stay in a grouped housing facility along with other NDIS participants. Simply put, the relevant accommodation type allows the NDIS participants to coexist comfortably and safely in a social home environment. Not only do they get access to all the NDIS support, but staying in such an accommodation is also fun.

Eligibility Criteria:

• You must need help and support with personal care, household tasks management, community participation, and social activities.
• You must be willing to stay in such housing facilities voluntarily.
• Staying in Group Homes must be the more cost-effective solution compared to other NDIS accommodations.
• You must be an NDIS participant.

Conclusion

No Limits Care, an esteemed NDIS service provider in Melbourne, offers an all-inclusive accommodation/tenancy service wherein they offer the following (to be more specific):

• Specialised Disability Accommodation (SDA)
• Supported Independent Living (SIL)
• Shared Housing
• Private Rentals
• Community Housing