DISABILITY
HOUSING — FUNDING
590. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
Minister for Disability Services:
I refer to funding for disability housing in the 2011–12
state budget, which is due to cease in June 2014.
(1) What new provisions does the state government have in
place to replace this funding?
(2) Does the
minister acknowledge the restricted opportunities for people with disabilities
to own their own home or to enjoy extended tenure and achieve satisfactory
housing solutions within their usually very limited financial means?
(3) Does
demand for housing, specifically universal access and modified homes, continue
to outstrip supply in Western Australia?
(4) Will the
state government develop an overarching state policy that will offer innovative
and affordable housing solutions for people with disabilities?
Hon
HELEN MORTON replied:
I thank the member for some notice
of the question. It also gives me an opportunity to indicate how successful an
aspect of the previous decision around housing that continues today has been.
(1) In 2011–12,
the state government provided $95.7 million over three years to build and buy
169 homes to provide capacity for 340 people with disability to have a home.
Although many housing projects have been completed and 209 people have moved
into their homes, the impact of new properties becoming available to people
with disability continues into 2014–15 as other projects are completed.
(2) Yes, there
are issues of people with disability who may have reduced capacity to earn
income. This is a limitation that reduces the opportunities for people with
disability to have their own home. That is why in 2011–12 the state
government provided $95.7 million in capital funding for houses for people with
disability and has committed $9 million over four years from July 2014 to
provide more suitable accommodation or support options for younger people with
disability residing in or at risk of entering an aged-care facility.
(3) The state
government has placed a strong emphasis on the development of homes that meet
universal access standards in both the public and private housing sectors. The
Liveable Homes project is successfully promoting and supporting the
construction of homes with universal access design standards throughout all
segments of the housing market.
(4) The issue of
housing for people with disability is on a national agenda brought into focus
by the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The Disability Services Commission
and the Department of Housing are engaged with the National Disability
Insurance Agency on consideration of the impact of the NDIS on demand for
housing for people with disability. This is a key issue that needs to be
addressed prior to the development of a state-level policy. In 2013, the
Disability Services Commission provided a grant to National Disability Services
WA to examine a range of issues associated with housing for people with
disability. This work was undertaken by Curtin University and included
contributions from a wide range of stakeholders. I will soon receive a report
on the outcomes of the research in a briefing from the Disability Services
Commission and the Department of Housing.